By Rockaway Beach Mayor Charles McNeilly
Five reasons for voting Yes on Rockaway Beach Charter Amendment Measure 29-187 are:
It affirms local control. The amendment expressly recognizes Rockaway Beach’s Oregon “home rule” authority—reinforcing that local voters and officials can structure city government around community needs rather than relying on the Legislature for local governance decisions.
It clarifies who is responsible for what. Removing language that assigns the Mayor and Council responsibility for department heads aligns the Charter with the City’s council-manager system: elected officials establish policy, while the professional City Manager administers staff and daily operations. This reduces ambiguity and the risk of conflicting direction.
It promotes continuity and stability in city leadership. Staggering elected officials’ terms means approximately half of the positions would be considered at each general election. That helps preserve institutional knowledge and reduces the possibility that nearly the entire governing body turns over at once.
It gives the Mayor enough time to provide sustained leadership. Beginning with the 2030 election, the Mayor’s term would increase from two years to four. A four-year term allows more time to learn the position, build working relationships, and advance longer-term priorities—while still preserving voter accountability through regular elections.
It makes the Charter clearer and more workable. The measure specifies when elected offices become vacant, clarifies municipal-court authority, removes repeated material, repairs cross-references, and corrects formatting and grammar. This is a practical maintenance of the City’s foundational governing document, not merely a cosmetic rewrite.
In one sentence: A Yes vote would modernize the Charter, clarify authority, improve continuity, support longer-term leadership, and strengthen Rockaway Beach’s ability to govern itself locally.
