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Independence Today
By the People, for the People
Union County Scraps Term Limits for Commissioners
Local group vows to fight the change at the ballot box
Feb. 27, 2026 at 8:23pm
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The Union County Circuit Court ruled in 2025 that term limits for county commissioners were unconstitutional, overturning a 2016 voter-approved measure that limited commissioners to two terms. The same group that helped get the term limit measure on the ballot a decade ago is now working to raise awareness about the change and plans to challenge it through future elections.
Why it matters
Term limits are a common way for voters to impose accountability on elected officials, but the court's ruling has removed that check on Union County commissioners. This has raised concerns from local activists about the concentration of power and lack of voter input in the decision to overturn the term limits.
The details
In 2016, Union County voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure to limit county commissioners to two terms. But in 2025, the county commissioners unanimously decided to challenge the term limits in court. A judge ruled the limits were unconstitutional, citing a 2018 Oregon Court of Appeals decision that found term limits for Douglas County commissioners were impermissible under the state constitution. The Union County Citizens for Good Government, the group that originally pushed for the term limits, was not notified about the court proceedings and is now working to raise awareness about the change and plans to fight it through future elections.
- In 2016, Union County voters approved a ballot measure limiting commissioners to two terms.
- In 2017, the county board of commissioners adopted the term limit ordinance.
- In 2025, the Union County Circuit Court ruled the term limits were unconstitutional.
- In 2026, Position 1 and Position 2 on the Union County Board of Commissioners will be up for election.
The players
Jim Mollerstrom
Director of the Union County Citizens for Good Government and the prior chief petitioner of the 2015 ballot measure that established term limits.
Matt Scarfo
Union County Commissioner who announced his intention to seek a third term following the court's ruling.
Paul Anderes
Union County Commissioner serving in Position 1 who has not filed for reelection.
Cory Miller
The only person who has filed so far for Position 1 on the Union County Board of Commissioners.
Wyatt Baum
Union County counsel who told commissioners the court's decision only overturned the limitation in Douglas County, not term limits statewide.
What they’re saying
“We hope people will become more interested and involved.”
— Jim Mollerstrom, Director, Union County Citizens for Good Government
“In our view, that circumvented the will of the people.”
— Jim Mollerstrom, Director, Union County Citizens for Good Government
What’s next
The Union County Citizens for Good Government plans to continue raising awareness about the change to term limits and mobilize voters to challenge the decision at the ballot box in future elections.
The takeaway
The Union County Circuit Court's ruling to overturn voter-approved term limits for county commissioners has raised concerns about the concentration of power and lack of public input, prompting a local activist group to vow to fight the change through future elections.
