Running for Office

Step 1: Schedule a Candidate Briefing and File Prospective Petition

Schedule an appointment for a Candidate Briefing to receive an orientation to the process and required paperwork. Prior to that appointment, review and complete the following items, which together constitute the “Prospective Petition”.

• Form SEL 101 – Candidate Filing (Major Party or Nonpartisan)
• Form SEL 121 – Candidate Signature Sheet (Nonpartisan)

If you are not sure which position you wish to file for, you may obtain prospective petitions for multiple positions. However, when you reach the third step of this process, you will only be able to file one completed petition.

Do not gather signatures yet. Form SEL 121 (signature sheet) must be approved by city staff prior to signatures being collected. Failure to do so will result in rejection of those signature sheets. As part of city staff’s approval process, they will attach an Affidavit (City of Tualatin Form 10-01) for Washington County and/or Clackamas County to each signature sheet.

Step 2: Circulate Petition/Collect Signatures

Tualatin’s City Charter requires candidates to collect at least 10 signatures from active registered voters in Tualatin. Here’s a few tips on collecting signatures:

• We recommend getting more than 10 signatures in case some are deemed invalid.
• No elector shall sign more than one petition for each vacant position. If the elector does so, the signature shall only be valid on the first petition filed for the position. For example, if Betty and Sue are both filing for Position 1, Nancy cannot provide a signature for both of their signature sheets.
• Finally, do not sign and date your signature sheet until all signatures have been gathered.

After collecting signatures, the candidate must list the names on the attached Affidavit (City of Tualatin Form 10-01) and have the Affidavit notarized. The city of Tualatin does not provide public notary services.

Once notarized, the signatures must be verified by the Washington County Elections Office.

Step 3: File Your Completed Petition

Schedule an appointment with city staff to complete the process before the filing deadline. The signature sheets, certified by Washington County, the notarized City of Tualatin Form 10-01, and a completed SEL 338 – Form Petition Submission must be submitted at this point. In turn, you will be asked to sign the Acceptance of Nomination Form (City of Tualatin Form 10-02). Once this step is complete, your name will be submitted for the ballot.

Step 4: Complete Statement of Organization and Campaign Finance Requirements

Each candidate must establish a campaign account and file a Statement of Organization designating a candidate committee, unless the candidate meets all three of the following conditions.

• The candidate serves as their own treasurer.
• The candidate does not have an existing committee.
• The candidate does not expect to receive or spend more than $750 during a calendar year (including the candidate’s personal funds).

Review the Secretary of State’s Campaign Finance Manual for further instructions and deadlines. Campaign finance activities must be filed electronically. Candidates may do so for free with the Secretary of State’s Secure Access System (ORESTAR).

Step 5: Submit Candidate Statement to the Voter’s Pamphlet (Optional)

Candidates have the option to submit statements to the Washington County and/or Clackamas County Voters’ Pamphlets. Statements must be filed with the respective counties before the deadline. Visit their websites for more information on cost, requirements, and filing deadlines.

• Washington County Election Division
• Clackamas County Elections

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Contact Information

Nicole Morris

Deputy City Recorder

503-691-3011 nmorris@tualatin.gov

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