How to Run for Office

Candidate filing opens on June 3, 2026 and closes on August 25, 2026.
  1. Review Qualifications: A person shall be eligible for an elective office of the City if at the time of election he/she is a qualified elector within the City for twelve continuous months immediately preceding the election and remains so during the term of office to which elected (City Charter, Chapter VI, Section 31).
     
  2. Review Campaign Finance Requirements (see below).
     
  3. Consult Pages 23-24 of the Candidate Manual linked below.
     
  4. Complete the Candidate Filing Form (SEL 101). When completing the form, please indicate whether you are filing for the Office of Mayor or City Councilor. All positions are nonpartisan.
     
  5. File by Fee
    To file by fee, a person must fill out the SEL 101 Candidate Filing – Major Political Party or Nonpartisan and pay a $50 fee.
     
  6. File by Petition
    To file by petition a person must complete and submit to the City Elections Clerk the two forms listed below to the City Elections Officer prior to gathering any signatures and well in advance of the August 25 deadline. No filing fees are required to run for the City of Silverton offices by this method. The Silverton City Charter requires petitions to contain a minimum of twenty (20) qualified (Silverton registered voter) signatures.  It is recommended you gather more than the minimum to ensure you have the required amount necessary.  Oregon law requires each petition sheet to be properly certified by its circulator, who must personally witness each signature.
  • SEL 101 – Candidate Filing – Major Political Party or Nonpartisan
  • SEL 121 – Candidate Signature Sheet – Nonpartisan

Send or bring all required forms and fees to Hilary Dumitrescu, City Elections Clerk (hdumitrescu [at] silverton.or.us (hdumitresu[at]silverton[dot]or[dot]us)). The deadline to file by fee with the City Elections Officer is August 25, 2026. Once candidates are confirmed, the City Recorder will prepare a certified list to the County Clerk for the ballot. The County Elections Division prepares the ballot and administers the election.

To submit a statement for the Marion County Voter's Pamphlet, submit a Maron County Voter's Pamphlet Candidate Statement Form ($25 filing fee) directly to the Marion County Election Officer.

Candidate Manuals & Filing Forms

  1. City Candidate Manual (PDF)
  2. SEL 101 Candidate Filing Form (PDF)
  3. SEL121 Candidate Signature Sheet - Nonpartisan (PDF)
  4. SEL 338 Petition (Signature Sheet) Submission Form (PDF)
  5. Maron County Voter's Pamphlet Candidate Statement Form ($25 filing fee)
  6. SEL 150 Candidate Filing Withdrawal Form (deadline Aug 28, 2026) (PDF)
  7. So You Want to Run for Local Office...A Guide for Prospective City Elected Officials (PDF)
  8. SEL 180 Residence Address Exemption Request (State online form)

Campaign Finance Reporting Requirements

Candidates must follow state law for campaign finance reporting. The Oregon Secretary of State Elections Division handles all campaign finance reporting.

See the Campaign Finance Manual and ORESTAR Quick Guide below.

Any questions you have regarding campaign finance should be directed to the Secretary of State’s Office:

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