Waldport Council Recall Goes To Voters

On June 2, 2026, the Lincoln County Clerk, Amy Southwell, confirmed that the recall petitions against all six Waldport City Councilors has met the requirements of Oregon election law. The petitions, filed by Chief Petitioner Tony Thimakis, submitted the required number of signatures from registered city voters and were verified by the Lincoln County Clerk. Under Oregon law, the councilors have five days to resign or face a recall election.

This certification marks the culmination of months of growing public frustration with the

direction of city government and what many residents view as a pattern of secrecy, selective

enforcement, and disregard for public accountability. Supporters of the recall contend that trust in city government has been eroded by repeated actions that place political interests ahead of transparency and public confidence.

They argue that when elected officials tolerate questionable conduct, ignore citizen concerns, or rely on technical loopholes rather than the spirit of the law, public trust suffers.

“The issue is larger than any one vote, policy, or personality”, said Chief Petitioner Tony

Thimakis. This recall is about whether the people of Waldport still have confidence in the

officials who represent them." Thimakis added "Government works only when citizens believe the rules apply equally to everyone and that decisions are being made openly and honestly."

Recall supporters say the election presents voters with an opportunity to reset the relationship between City Hall and the community by demanding greater accountability, transparency, and responsiveness from local government. The recall effort is ultimately about a simple principle: elected officials serve the public, and when public confidence is lost, voters have the right to decide whether new leadership is needed.

The decision now belongs to the people of Waldport, with the election around July 14th.

Residents are encouraged to learn about the issues, participate in public discussion, and vote

when the election is held. If the council is recalled then, according to the Waldport Charter the remaining council member will appoint enough people to make up a quorum, and the positions would all be open for election in November, including the Mayor's position.