King City Council Protest - Friday, 12/20/24
Outside city hall - Noon to 1 PM. Inside Council Chambers beginning at 1 PM
Media will be present. Food and drinks will be available. Be respectful, don’t block doors or sidewalks

Why the Protest-
To stop the rushed proceeding to fill a vacancy on the city council. If the Council proceeds with

an appointment, the choice should be easy, the voters choice, Steve Gearhart.
● In their haste, the city is not in Compliance with Municipal Code 2.38, Procedures For Filling Of
Council Vacancy. See last page of this handout.
● The councilors will be violating their oath of office of not supporting the ordinances of the city of
King City by interviewing and/or appointing for the vacancy.
● The city will be going back to court where they lost twice before on voter issues and spent tens of
thousands of dollars doing so.
● 1,298 voters selected Steve Gearhart and those results were certified less than 3 weeks ago.
● The removal of the recalled councilor by a judge would have created a vacancy in time for the
election. If the timing of the court action had been different, Gearhart would have been elected.
● The council will have new members in 11 days. The current council should respect the will of
the voters or pass the torch to the next council..
● There are 4 applicants, 2 campaigned and 2 did not. What are the personal relationships with the
councilors? Who recruited who? Will they recuse themselves? Remove all questions of personal
bias by choosing who the voters chose.
● Two people applied on 12/16, the correct application deadline but their applications were rejected
for not being timely. How many others may have applied before the legitimate deadline and
didn’t?
● Just 7 votes separated an elected councilor from Steve Gearhart.
● If the council proceeds it will be yet another instance that the city flaunts the law and city
ordinances
● If the council proceeds King City will again find itself in Washington County Circuit
Court
● If the council proceeds it will be another case of wastefully using taxpayer dollars on
legal expenses as a result of poor leadership and accountability to the citizens of King
City.
● If the council proceeds it will be a violation of the councilors oath of office to support the
ordinances of the city of King City
● If the council proceeds it will be a willful act at dividing the community rather than
uniting the community.

2.38.010 When procedures begin.
A. The process to select a candidate for the vacancy will be initiated at the time a vacancy exists in accordance with
the King City Charter, Chapter IV, Section 17(1) and (2).
B. A majority of the council shall make every effort to fill vacant Councilor position within three months.
2.38.020 Notification of vacancies.
A. The city manager shall cause, by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in King City, applications to be
filed by all interested qualified candidates. Applications will be accepted for thirty days after the first publication.
(King City Charter, Chapter IV, Section 14(a)) First published in the Oregonian on 11/15
B. Remaining councilors shall immediately canvas their contacts for possible candidates.
C. The city manager will inquire, by letter, to those applications of the prior year, as to whether or not they wish to
resubmit their applications, and/or remain on a list of interested persons.
D. At the end of the thirty-day period, receipt of applications will cease.
2.38.050 Interviewing candidates.
A. The council may direct the city manager to set a date for interviews with all candidates once the filing deadline has
expired. Interviews shall take place no sooner than five days after the filing deadline. Interviews will be conducted
in accordance with the Oregon Public Meetings Law, ORS 192.610 to 192.710.
B. The council will offer an interview to each candidate. When the council is satisfied that it has concluded the
interview process and reviewed the qualifications of the nominees, the mayor shall call for nominations (by voice).
1.04.070 Computation of time.
Except when otherwise provided, the time within which an act is required to be done shall be computed by
excluding the first day and including the last day, unless the last day is Sunday or a holiday, in which case it
shall also be excluded.