Based on the Josephine County Charter, an individual appointed to fill a vacancy on the Board of County Commissioners does not serve the remainder of the original four-year term. Instead, they serve only until a successor is elected at the next general election and takes office.
The following specific sections of the charter explain this process:
1. Duration of the Appointment
Section 24(1) explicitly defines the duration of the appointment. It states that when a vacancy occurs:
“This notice shall request qualified individuals to apply to serve until the person elected at the next general election takes office by filing an application with the Board of Commissioners.”
This clarifies that the appointment is a temporary measure intended to bridge the gap between the vacancy and the next scheduled general election, rather than a full-term replacement.
2. Exceptions to the Standard Four-Year Term
While Section 8(1) establishes that commissioners are generally elected for four-year terms, Section 9 creates a specific carve-out for those appointed to vacancies:
“Except commissioners appointed to vacancies on the Board of County Commissioners, the term of office of a county commissioner begins the first Monday after the first January 1… and continues four years…”
By including the phrase “Except commissioners appointed to vacancies,” the charter reinforces that the standard four-year commencement and duration rules do not apply to appointees.
3. Recall Procedures
Regarding a recall, Section 22 states:
“An elective officer of the county may be recalled in the manner, and with the effect, now or hereafter prescribed by the constitution and laws of the state.”
Because the charter defers the “effect” of a recall to Oregon state law, the resulting vacancy is handled under the same rules as any other vacancy (death, resignation, etc.) described in Section 23 and Section 24.
Which means no matter who is appointed to Andreas Blech and Chris Barnett’s seats now – there will be two open commissioners seats come November to fill.
| Situation | Outcome | Charter Citation |
| Vacancy occurs | Board must fill within 30 days. | Section 24(1) |
| Appointee’s Term | Ends when the person elected at the next general election takes office. | Section 24(1) |
| Recall process | Follows Oregon State Law/Constitution. | Section 22 |
