Notice of Proposed Ballot Title
Columbia City has one of the lowest permanent city tax rates in Oregon at just $1.13 per $1,000 of assessed value. Due to being a primarily residential bedroom community with minimal commercial or industrial tax bases, our per capita tax revenues remain exceptionally low. For the last fourteen years, these limited permanent revenues have subsidized the rising law enforcement operational costs. To ensure stable, dedicated funding and maintain current public safety levels, the City is placing a Local Option Levy for Police Protection on the November 3, 2026, ballot. The proposed rate of $1.95 per $1,000 of assessed value ensures the police department is almost fully self-sustaining. For a home with an assessed value of $300,000, this represents a total annual investment of $585 (about $1.60 a day) dedicated strictly to local public safety. This represents an increase of $315 per year (about $0.86 per day) over the current police levy, which expires in June of 2027.
Mayor and City Council Elections
DO YOU WANT TO RUN FOR MAYOR OR CITY COUNCIL? If you are interested in running for Mayor or City Council, please review this information thoroughly including the attachments below. If you have any questions, contact Kim Karber, City Elections Officer by email at kkarber@columbia-city.org or by phone at 503-397-4010.
POSITIONS. At the 2026 General Election on November 3, 2026 the Columbia City Mayor and two City Council positions will appear on the ballot. The positions are for four year terms.
Mayor (four year term expiring December 31, 2026) – Presently held by Alexander Reed.
Councilor 2 positions (four year terms expiring December 31, 2026) – Presently held by Gordon Thistle and currently vacant position.
CANDIDATE FILINGS – the following shows what filings have been received.
Mayor Candidates:
- Alexander Reed – incumbent
Councilor Candidates:
- None at this time
QUALIFICATIONS. To qualify as a candidate for any available position you must:
- Be 18 years of age or older.
- Be registered to vote in Oregon.
- Have resided within the city limits of Columbia City during the 12 months immediately preceding the election. (Since November 3, 2025)
REQUIREMENTS. Elected officials are required to:
- File a Statement of Economic Interest annually with the Oregon Government Ethics Commission.
- 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 13, 2026* by 4 pm
- Appointed Incumbents or New Candidates – No later than August 20, 2026* by 4 pm
*Columbia City deadlines. State designated deadlines differ.
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 COMPAIGN 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:
- The Candidate serves as the Candidate’s own treasurer; and
- The Candidate does not have an existing candidate committee; and
- The Candidate does not expect to receive or spend more than $1,500 during a calendar year.
STEP 2 – FILING FOR CANDIDACY. Nomination petitions of candidacy shall clearly indicate if you are filing for Mayor or a City Council position.
Candidates 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 20 valid signatures from active registered voters in Columbia City. It is recommended that the candidate collect 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.
STEP 3 – FILING. The deadline to file your completed documents with the City Elections Official is 4 pm on the filing deadline noted above. Signatures must be submitted for verification allowing sufficient time for the verification process to be completed prior to the filing deadline. Please submit all required forms by the filing deadlines noted above, in person, at City Hall, 1840 Second Street, Columbia City, OR 97018, ask for Kim Karber.
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 pm 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 $50.
Instructions and forms for filing a candidate statement for inclusion in the Voters’ Pamphlet 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.
SIGNS. Signs are allowed in the city limits of Columbia City. No permits are necessary if the signs comply with the following standards:
- Temporary sign not exceeding four square feet per sign totaling no more than eight square feet per fifty foot of property frontage.
- Time period allowed: Election event begins with the closing of the filing period and is complete when the time for casting ballots is complete.
- Must be located on private property with owner’s permission.
In addition, the following is prohibited:
- Sign attached to a utility pole or placed within any public right of way.
- Sign that is illuminated.
- Sign which purports to be, is in imitation of, or resembles an official traffic light or a portion thereof, or which hides from view any official traffic sign or signal.
- Sign that obstructs pedestrian walkways, or in any way impedes the normal flow of pedestrian or vehicle traffic.
- Sign that does not comply with any applicable ADA requirements.
- A-frame signs must be removed at the end of each business day.
- Sign that contains any flashing lights, blinking or moving letters, characters or other elements, nor shall it be rotating or otherwise moveable.
- Billboards, video signs and wind signs or devices.
- Sign or portion thereof placed as to obstruct any fire escape, standpipe, or human exit from a window located above the first floor of a building; obstruct any door or exit from a building; or obstruct any required light or ventilation.
- Sign that is located on or would be projected over any portion of a street, sidewalk, or other public right of way.
- Roof signs.
For more information, see Chapter 7.102 of the City’s Development Code or contact City Planning Administrative Assistant, Helen Johnson at 503-397-4010 or email: hjohnson@columbia-city.org.
MISCELLANEOUS
- All election forms filed with the City Elections Official are a matter of public record and will be released if requested.
- If you have any questions, contact Kim Karber, City Elections Official by email at kkarber@columbia-city.org or by phone at 503-397-4010.
- Nominating petitions and other mentioned forms are available at City Hall.