November 2026 Election Ballot Measure

Notice of Receipt of Ballot Title

Notice is hereby given that on July 20, 2026, the Corvallis City Council referred to the November 3, 2026, general election the following ballot title and explanatory statement to amend the Corvallis City Charter. On July 21, 2026, the City recorder published the ballot title, explanatory statement, and full text of the proposed amendments for the measure. 

• Amend Corvallis Charter to Change City Council, Wards, and Terms

Any elector who is dissatisfied with any of the ballot title or explanatory statement may file a petition to review the ballot title or explanatory statement issued by the Corvallis City Attorney in the Benton County Circuit Court. The filer must name the Corvallis City Attorney as the respondent of the petition; state the reasons the title filed is insufficient, not concise, or unfair; and notify the City Recorder in writing that a petition has been filed. The petition to review must be filed with Benton County Circuit Court no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 30, 2026.

This measure was referred to the voters by the City Council based on the recommendation of the City's Charter Review Task Force Phase 2. The Task Force's final report can be found here. 

Measure to Amend Corvallis Charter to Change City Council, Wards, and Terms

Ballot Title

Caption: Amend Corvallis Charter to Change City Council, Wards, and Terms

Question: Shall City amend charter to change number of councilors and wards, length and staggering of terms, and impose term limits?

Summary:

This measure would amend the City’s existing home rule charter. The Oregon Constitution gives city voters the right to adopt and amend charters.  Charters grant legal authority to cities, describe a city’s form of government, and assign duties to city officials.

If approved, this measure would amend sections 8, 9, and 10 of the current charter to change the number of city councilors and wards from nine to six, change councilor terms of office from two to four years with staggered elections, impose term limits of three consecutive terms for councilors and the mayor, and make other related changes. No other sections of the Charter would be changed by this measure.

This measure was referred to the voters by the City Council based on the recommendation of the City’s Charter Review Task Force.

Explanatory Statement

If approved, this measure would amend the City’s current charter.

The proposed charter amendments are based on the unanimous recommendation of the City’s Charter Review Task Force.  The Task Force included the following individuals:

• Charles Maughan (Mayor)
• Briae Lewis (City Councilor)
• Jan Napack (City Councilor)
• Ava Olson (City Councilor)
• Danielle Chambers (Community-at-Large)
• Steve Lee (Community-at-Large)
• Shelley Ries (Community-at-Large)

The City Council approved submitting this measure to the voters.

The Oregon Constitution gives city voters the right to adopt and amend home rule charters.  A charter grants legal authority to a city government, describes the city’s form of government, and defines the roles and responsibilities of city officials.

This measure would make several changes to sections of the City charter relating to the City’s form of government. Specifically, this measure would amend the following sections of the charter:

Section 8, relating to the City Council. This section would be amended in the following ways:

• Changes the number of councilors from nine to six.
• Changes the term of office of councilors from two years to four years.
• Staggers the elections of councilors such that councilors from even-numbered wards are elected in federal presidential election years and councilors from odd-numbered wards are elected in federal midterm election years.
• Imposes term limits on councilors. A person could not serve more than three consecutive terms as a councilor, regardless of ward. Partial terms of less than two years would not be counted. Terms served prior to January 2027 would also not be counted.
• Describes how the transition from the current Council structure would occur though an election of all six councilors in November 2028, where councilors from odd-numbered wards would serve an initial two-year (rather than four-year) term in order to obtain the staggering of terms described above.
• Makes other revisions for clarity.

Section 9, relating to wards. This section would be amended in the following ways:

• Changes the number of wards from nine to six.
• Requires City Council to make its initial designation of the six wards no later than December 31, 2027.
• Removes existing language providing a 25-day period of time during which Council can designate wards.
• Removes language regarding revision of wards.

Section 10, relating to the office of mayor. This section would be amended in the following ways:

• Clarifies that the mayor is elected from the city at large.
• Removes language relating to the initial election of a mayor in 1954 and replaces it with language providing that the mayor is elected in federal midterm election years, which aligns with the current election schedule.
• Imposes term limits on the mayor. A person could not serve more than three consecutive terms as mayor. Partial terms of less than two years would not be counted. Terms served prior to January 2027 would also not be counted.
• Makes other revisions for clarity.

No other provisions of the Charter would be changed by this measure.

Full Text of the Proposed Amendments

The full text of the proposed amendments are available in the pdf in the Supporting Documents below.