Pamela Thomas has resigned from the Madras City Council, effective immediately — the third councilor to leave since April 2026, deepening a season of significant turnover at City Hall with just two months until the November election.
Thomas, who had served nearly two years in her most recent stint on the council, announced her departure Tuesday. She said she wants to spend more time with family as she prepares to become a grandmother.
"It takes time to get things accomplished. So I'm not seeing things go to fruition and finish things up that we've started. So that's a tough one."
Despite the difficulty of the decision, Thomas said she is optimistic about where Madras is headed.
"I know that there's good things coming," she said, adding that she is particularly encouraged by new staff coming on board at the city.
A Long History of Public Service
Thomas first served on the Madras City Council in 2000 through an appointment. Before retiring in 2024, she spent more than two decades in the community development department for the City of Redmond, having joined in 1994. She ran for the council seat in the November 2024 election, winning alongside Gabriel Soliz — who was re-elected — and Whitney Bell, who also joined the council that cycle.
A Council in Transition
Thomas's departure is the third resignation since April. Councilor Lamar Yoder stepped down in April 2026, followed by Councilor Mike Seibold in August. The council appointed Tony Chard and Christopher Heden on September 1 to fill those two vacancies; both will serve through December 31, 2026.
With Thomas now departing, the council must decide whether to pursue another appointment, operate short-handed, or let the November election resolve the open seat. Council seats are on the November ballot, giving voters an opportunity to shape the body's long-term direction.
New Leadership Taking Shape
The resignations come amid a broader leadership transition across the city. New City Administrator Brenda Fahey, hired in August, is already leading a search for a new police chief — a process that has advanced to the finalist stage. The city is also in active discussions about a potential major industrial development at Madras Municipal Airport that could create up to 1,200 jobs.
Thomas said she leaves with hope for what's ahead.
"I know that there's good things coming," she told the Madras Pioneer. November's election will give voters the chance to chart a stable path forward for a council that has seen an unusual degree of change in a short amount of time.