Jim Beck wants to run for mayor but has been refused permission to file because his father-in-law is seeking re-election to the city council.

Beck, 38, met with City Clerk Linda Kaser July 10 and received a letter: "Per our filing candidacy appointment today and the information you provided, I regret to inform you that you are not qualified to run for a city position pursuant to Chapter 3, Section 12 of the Lebanon City Charter."

A Lebanon charter amendment, confirmed by voters in the primary in May, bars relatives of council members and city employees from serving on the council. It applies to spouses, domestic partners, parents, siblings, and sons or daughters through blood, marriage or adoption.

Beck's wife, Jacki, is the youngest daughter of Councilman Ray Weldon, whose candidacy for re-election has been accepted for the November general election.

"I'm really disappointed that the city that friendliness built has turned into the city that takes your constitutional rights away," Beck said, referring to Lebanon's motto. "I find it troubling to be treated this way."

Beck said he had spoken to his lawyer, Paul Meadowbrook. He believed the denial would strengthen his position as one of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging the charter restriction on council candidates.

The provision was first adopted as part of a general charter revision in 2003. After it was challenged in court partly on the grounds that it was vague on the term "family members," voters approved a revised version defining the term this past May.

In its response to the lawsuit, the city argues that running for office is not a constitutional right. It also asserts there is a rational basis for restricting spouses and immediate family members from serving together on the city council.

Beck, a service technician for Monaco Coach Corp. in Harrisburg, had wanted to challenge Mayor Ken Toombs, who has filed for re-election and is the only candidate for the office so far.

City Manager John Hitt said he couldn't remember exactly why the ban on relatives was first proposed five years ago. Others since then have defended it on the grounds of preventing nepotism, the hiring and favoring of relatives in employment.

As far as is known, Lebanon is the only Oregon city with such a provision.

In other election news, four incumbents have filed for November's election.

Councilors Ray Weldon in Ward I and Don Thoma in Ward III, filed election papers on July 8. Mayor Ken Toombs and councilor Rebecca Grizzle in Ward II had already done so.

Weldon is completing his first four-year term on the council. He is retired, having worked for Champion Industries for 22 years, at a gas station and as a purchasing agent for the state for 17 years.

He is a former member of the Lebanon Tourism Commission.

Thoma was appointed in July 2007 to fill the council position left vacant by the resignation of Ron Miller. He is retired from the former Willamette Industries, Duraflake Division, in Albany. An active community volunteer, he has served on the Strawberry Festival Board, Strawberry Festival Associa-tion and Strawberrians. He president of the Lebanon Community Foundation.

Candidates must be registered voters who have lived in Lebanon continuously in the six months immediately preceding the election. Council candidates must live in the ward they want to represent.

Candidates have until 5 p.m. on Aug. 15 to file election forms with Kaser at City Hall, 925 Main St.

Election packets that include detailed candidacy information, required qualifications, and forms are available at city hall. For more information or to have a packet mailed to you, call 258-4264.