What positions are on the ballot?

Changing Portland’s Form of Government

Portland currently has a commission form of government. City Council, which consists of a mayor and four commissioners, exercises legislative and executive powers, including managing city bureaus.  

On Jan. 1, 2025, the City of Portland’s form of government will change and go from a city council made up of four commissioners and a mayor to a council consisting of 12 councilors. The new council will no longer oversee day-to-day operations of Portland bureaus. Instead, a new city administrator, who will report to the mayor, will lead administrative operations of the City. This will make the new city council a legislative body instead of the hybrid legislative/executive body that it has been.   

Roles and Responsibilities of the Mayor, Councilors, and Auditor

Starting Jan. 1, 2025, city council will be the policy body for the City of Portland and the mayor will take on an executive role.  

The mayor will also work with a professional city administrator to implement the laws enacted by council and administer the city’s bureaus, employees, facilities, and resources.  

The 12-member legislative council will: 

• Set policy. 

• Have the legislative power to make appropriations, raise revenues, and adopt the city budget. 

• Convene public meetings, gather input, debate, and evaluate policy choices, and adopt laws or policies to reflect those choices. 

• Exercise quasi-judicial power to apply laws and policies. 

The executive mayor will: 

• Manage city services with the help of the City Administrator. 

• Adopt administrative rules and executes laws. 

• Administer bureaus, employees, facilities, and resources and ensures the City is using appropriated funds effectively. 

• Introduce matters before City Council with the same authority as a councilor and vote in the case of a tie. 

The Portland City Auditor is independent of the Mayor and Council and accountable only to the public. The Auditor, assisted by a Deputy Auditor, oversees: 

• The Council Clerk. 

• The City Elections Office. 

• Audit Services. 

• The City Ombudsmen. 

• The City Archivist. 

The City Auditor’s Office promotes open and accountable government by providing independent and impartial reviews, access to public information, and services for City government and the public. 

Positions up for Election in 2024

These offices will be on the Nov. 5, 2024 General Election ballot. All terms will begin on Jan. 1, 2025 and end on December 31 following the relevant General Election. 

• City Mayor [4-year term] 

• City Councilor, District 1 (Three Seats) [4-year term] 

• City Councilor, District 2 (Three Seats) [4-year term] 

• City Councilor, District 3 (Three Seats) [2-year term] 

• City Councilor, District 4 (Three Seats) [2-year term] 

• City Auditor [2-year term] 

At the November 2024 Election, the mayor and each councilor from District 1 and 2 will be elected to a four-year term. The auditor and each councilor from District 3 and 4 will be elected to a two-year term. At subsequent elections, those elected will hold office for four years. 

Learn more about running for City office.