Oregon City Will Elect Fourth Mayor In Three Years In August Election

OREGON CITY, OR — In November 2018, Oregon City elected Dan Holladay as Mayor. Two years later they recalled him after a string of controversial remarks. That led to Rachel Lyles Smith, who was president of the city commission at the time, being appointed interim mayor. She was then elected to her own term in a special election last year.

On Wednesday, she wrote to her colleagues saying that she was resigning as of April 22. On that day, the current city commission president, Denyse McGriff, will become interim mayor.

On Thursday, Oregon City announced that there will be a special election in August to finish out what started out as Holladay's term. While McGriff could run and win – she has not yet said what her intentions are – the city could end up with its fourth mayor in three years.

If that's not enough, three months later, in November, there will be a regular mayoral election. That could mean that, come January, Oregon City could see its fifth mayor in just four years.

The mayor and the other four members of the city commission are all volunteers.

Lyles Smith wrote in her letter of resignation that she's stepping aside "so that my husband and I can move out of state to be near our families. It is my desire to put family first and I can only hope that you would do the same for your family."

She said that "over the last year our families have experienced multiple medical incidents that have heightened our awareness, desire and need to be near them."

Lyles Smith wrote that "the last couple of years has reminded many of us the value of family and the irreplaceable time that can and should be spent with them."

She first became interim mayor in November 2020 when Holladay was recalled after a series of controversies including downplaying police brutality and urging residents to defy state orders that were intended to slow the spread of COVID-19. She had been a member of the City Commission.

A couple of months later, she was then elected to her own term.

"The last three years serving on the City Commission have been an honor and privilege and filled with many great accomplishments that I am very proud of," she wrote the other members of the commission.

"I still believe that we have one of the strongest, non-partisan set of volunteers on the City Commission that this city has ever had."

When McGriff becomes interim mayor, she will be the first person of color to be mayor of Oregon City.

"I am confidant that new leaders will step up and serve Oregon City as they have done for many years," Lyles Smith wrote in her letter.

Meanwhile, City Commissioner Adam Mari had praise for Lyles Smith.

"Rachel restored dignity and respect to the mayor's office and has provided steady leadership amid an otherwise tumultuous period for our city," Mari wrote. "In doing so, she has set a high bar for whoever takes her place.

"We are a better city because of Mayor Lyles Smith’s leadership."