Lake Oswego Opens Application for City Council Vacancy

Residents can apply to fill the seat left by the resignation of Aaron Rapf.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 8:08pm

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A dimly lit, cinematic painting of an empty city council chamber, with warm sunlight streaming in through the windows and deep shadows cast across the room, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation and civic responsibility.The vacant Lake Oswego City Council seat represents an opportunity for civic-minded residents to shape the future of their community.Lake Oswego Today

The city of Lake Oswego, Oregon is accepting applications from residents to fill a vacant City Council seat. The seat was left open after the resignation of Councilor Aaron Rapf. The application process will be open from April 10 to April 24, and the new councilor will be appointed and sworn in at the June 2 City Council meeting.

Why it matters

Filling vacant city council seats is an important process that allows residents to have a voice in local government. The appointed councilor will serve until the November election, when the seat will be up for a full term.

The details

Applicants for the Lake Oswego City Council vacancy will be evaluated on their leadership experience, ability to prioritize the time commitment required, and skills as a productive collaborator. After reviewing applications, Mayor Joe Buck will recommend candidates to be interviewed by the City Council. The new councilor will be sworn in on June 2 and will serve until January 1, 2027, unless they run for the seat in the November election and win, in which case they would serve the remainder of the term until 2029.

  • The application process opens on April 10, 2026.
  • Applications will be accepted until 12 p.m. on April 24, 2026.
  • The new councilor will be sworn in at the June 2, 2026 City Council meeting.

The players

Aaron Rapf

The former Lake Oswego City Councilor who resigned, leaving the seat vacant.

Joe Buck

The Mayor of Lake Oswego who will recommend candidates to the City Council for the vacant seat.

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What’s next

The City Council will review applications and rank candidates after the April 24 deadline. Mayor Joe Buck will then make a recommendation on which candidates should be interviewed.

The takeaway

This vacancy provides an opportunity for engaged Lake Oswego residents to get involved in local government and shape the future of their community. The appointed councilor will serve a critical role until the November election, when voters will have the chance to elect a representative for a full term.