Position: The League of Women Voters of Lane County believes that the responsibility for governing Lane County should rest with an elected Board of Commissioners. The duties of the Board should be clear and limited:
- The Lane County Home Rule Charter should provide for separation of administrative and legislative authority.
- The Board should be the County’s legislative and policy-making body.
- The Board should appoint a professional administrator, accountable to the Board, and establish the administrator’s duties. Consideration should be given to an appointed assessor.
The Board of Commissioners should have five members, living in districts to assure representation of all parts of the County. Each commissioner should serve full time for a four-year term and be elected on a nonpartisan basis.
When three or more individuals compete for a single elective position, a run-off election should be held, if necessary, to ensure that the winning candidate receives at least 50% of the votes cast.
The meetings of the legislative body at which decisions are made should be public, announced in advance, and regularly scheduled. A published agenda should be provided.