City Council Elections

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SO YOU WANT TO RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL!

If you are interested in running for City Council, please review this information thoroughly including the attachments below.  If you have questions, contact City Elections Official Kathy Payne by email at kpayne@sthelensoregon.gov or by phone at (503)366-8217.  

Positions

At the 2026 General Election on November 3, 2026, the St. Helens Mayor and two Councilor positions will appear on the ballot.  All positions are nonpartisan and elected "at large," not by ward or district.

            Mayor (2-year term expiring December 31, 2028)

                   Presently held by Jennifer Massey

          Councilor – 2 positions (4-year terms expiring December 31, 2032)

                   Presently held by Mark Gundersen and Brandon Sundeen

Qualifications

To qualify as a candidate for Mayor or a City Councilor, you must:

• Be 18 years of age or older.
• Be registered to vote in Oregon.
• Have resided within the city limits of St. Helens during the 12 months immediately preceding the election.

All candidates must also complete the Certification of Qualified Elector/Residency form below.

Requirements

Elected officials are required to file a Statement of Economic Interest annually with the Oregon Government Ethics Commission.  

Elected officials are also required to take Public Meetings Law training within each of their terms of office. Information will be provided to those candidates that are elected.

Additionally, according to ORS 419B.005(6)(s) and 419B.010, elected officials are mandatory abuse reporters. Review the League of Oregon Cities Abuse Reporting packet by clicking here.

Filing Dates

First Day to File:  No earlier than June 3, 2026

Last Day to File with City Elections Official: 

• Elected Incumbents - No later than August 11, 2026 at 4:00 p.m.
• Appointed Incumbents or New Candidates - No later than August 18, 2026 at 4:00 p.m.

How to File

Please review the following information thoroughly.  The Candidate Manual and Campaign Finance Manual will provide instructions to help you through the process.  These manuals are available online at the Secretary of State's Elections Division website.

STEP 1 - REGISTER* YOUR CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE

Prospective Candidates shall file a Candidate's Statement of Organization (Form SEL 220) with the Oregon Secretary of State's Elections Division.  This filing must take place within three (3) business days of receiving the first contribution or making an initial expenditure.  These filings are done electronically using ORESTAR.  See the Campaign Finance Manual for further information.  

*Note:  A candidate is not required to establish a campaign account, file a Statement of Organization, or file contribution and expenditure reports, if all three of the following conditions are met:

1. The Candidate serves as the Candidate's own treasurer; and
2. The Candidate does not have an existing candidate committee; and
3. The Candidate does not expect to receive or spend more than $1,500 during a calendar year.

STEP 2 - TWO OPTIONS FOR FILING FOR CANDIDACY

Nomination petitions and declarations of candidacy shall clearly indicate if you are filing for Mayor or a Councilor position.  

1. Candidates Filing by Declaration.  Per the St. Helens Municipal Code, a Candidate may file by declaration by completing the Candidate Filing form (SEL 101) and paying a $50 fee in lieu of obtaining signatures on a petition.  Checks should be made out to "City of St. Helens."  You may also pay online at https://www.sthelensoregon.gov/payments. 
    
2. Candidates Filing by Petition.  Candidates filing by petition must complete the Candidate Filing form (SEL 101) and the Candidate Signature Sheet (SEL 121).  The Candidate Signature Sheet must be approved in writing by the City Elections Official prior to collecting signatures.  Failure to do so will result in the rejection of those signature sheets.  Candidates must collect a minimum of 64 valid signatures from active registered voters within at least 10% of the precincts in the City of St. Helens.  It is recommended that you collect 20% more than the required number of signatures in case some are disqualified.  You must complete and submit form SEL 338 when submitting the signature sheets to the City Elections Official. The City Elections Official submits signature sheets to the County Elections Office for verification.  If the candidate does not submit enough valid signatures, the candidate may continue to collect additional signatures until the filing deadline.

All candidates must also complete the Certification of Qualified Elector/Residency form below.

STEP 3 - FILING

The deadline to file your completed documents with the City Elections Official is 4:00 p.m. on the filing deadline noted above.  Signatures must be submitted early in order to complete the signature verification process prior to the filing deadline. Please submit all required forms and fees by the filing deadlines noted above, including the Certification of Qualified Elector/Residency form.  You may submit forms in person, by mail, fax, or by scanning/emailing. 

            In person or by mail:           City of St. Helens
                                                        Attn: Kathy Payne
                                                        265 Strand Street
                                                        St. Helens, OR  97051

            Fax:                  (503)397-4016

            Scan/Email:     kpayne@sthelensoregon.gov

If mailing, faxing, or emailing, please confirm with the City Elections Official that your materials have been received by 4:00 p.m. on the filing date.

Withdrawal of Candidacy

To withdraw from candidacy, a candidate must file a Candidate Filing Withdrawal form (SEL 150) with the City Elections Official.  This form must be filed no later than 5:00 p.m. on August 28, 2026.

Voters' Pamphlet Information

Candidates can file a statement in the Voters’ Pamphlet with the Columbia County Elections Division.  The deadline for submission is September 8, 2026, and the fee is $100. 

Instructions and forms for filing a candidate statement for inclusion in the Voters’ Pamphlet with are available online at https://www.columbiacountyor.gov/departments/Elections/candidate-resources.

Contact the Columbia County Elections Division at (503)397-7214 for further information.

Political Signs

Political signs are allowed in the city limits of St. Helens.  No permits are necessary.  The signs are required to comply with the following standards:

• Maximum size: 32 square feet
• Maximum height: 8 feet
• Time period allowed: 120 days before a public election or the time election is called, whichever is earlier, until five days after the public election
• Must be located on private property with owner's permission

In addition, the following is prohibited:

• Illumination of political signs
• Any political sign within a public right-of-way or on City-owned property
• Any political sign that may be confused with or construed as a traffic control device, or which hides a traffic control device from view
• Any political sign that will obstruct access to any fire escape or other entrance/exit from a building or exit corridor
• Any political sign that could impede vehicular or pedestrian traffic on any street, alley, sidewalk, bikeway, or similar travel way
• Any political sign attached to a tree, a plant, a fence, or autility pole
• Any sign that violates clear vision rules (Chapter 17.76 SHMC) 
• Blocking visibility at intersections (including driveways)

For more information, see Political Signs document below or contact City Planning at 503-397-6272 or email City Planner Jacob Graichen at jgraichen@sthelensoregon.gov.

Miscellaneous

All election forms filed with the City Elections Official are a matter of public reecord and will be released if requested.

If you have any questions about the above information, please email City Elections Official Kathy Payne at kpayne@sthelensoregon.gov.

City Council Candidates (Live Information)

TBD