Lincoln County is inviting interested residents to apply for an appointment to fill the vacancy on the Board of Commissioners left by the passing of Commissioner Claire Hall.

In accordance with Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS 236.210(2)), the county is now accepting applications to appoint a replacement commissioner to serve the remainder of the term until the next election.

The position is a full-time role. Commissioners are responsible for conducting regular and special meetings of the Board, overseeing the county administrator and county counsel, serving on various state, regional, and local agency boards, setting county policy, adopting the annual budget, and handling other key duties.

Eligibility requirements include:

• Being a resident of Lincoln County for at least one year (meaning residency established by January 14, 2025, at the latest).
• Being a registered voter.

Applications are being accepted for 16 days and must be submitted by 5 p.m. on January 30, 2026. The official application form is available as a PDF on the county’s website.

Completed applications can be submitted via:

• Email to [email protected]
• Mail or in-person delivery to Lincoln County Courthouse, Room 110, 225 W. Olive Street, Newport, Oregon 97365
• Fax to 541-265-4176

After the deadline, the two remaining commissioners will review applications, conduct interviews, and vote to appoint a replacement.

This vacancy follows a period of significant public attention around Hall’s service, including a now-voided recall election that had been scheduled amid ongoing county debates.

For questions, contact Public Information Officer Kenneth Lipp at 541-265-4100 or [email protected].