Madras City Council Selects Brenda Fahey as New City Administrator

The Madras City Council has identified Brenda Fahey as its preferred candidate for the position of City Administrator, directing that an employment agreement be prepared for consideration at the June 23, 2026, City Council meeting.

Fahey currently serves as Assistant City Manager and Human Resources Director for the City of The Dalles, Oregon, bringing a background in municipal management and personnel administration to the role. She was selected from a field of three finalists following a public meet-and-greet event at Initiative Brewing on June 10 that drew community members and allowed residents to question all three candidates directly.

Stability After a Period of Turmoil

The hire comes after what city officials have described as months of leadership instability at City Hall. The selection process narrowed from an initial pool to three finalists: Fahey, Maurice Henderson II, and Jody Yates. The City Council conducted final interviews before settling on Fahey.

The choice is widely seen as an effort to bring stability to a city government that has seen significant turnover in recent years. City officials have expressed optimism that Fahey's experience in municipal administration — including managing human resources for a comparably sized river-city community — will translate well to Madras.

What's Next

The formal employment agreement will be presented to the full City Council at its regular meeting on June 23, 2026, at which point terms of employment are expected to be finalized. If approved, Fahey will assume leadership of day-to-day city operations, overseeing departments and reporting directly to the elected Council.

Madras, with a population of roughly 7,000, serves as the county seat of Jefferson County. The City Administrator position is one of the most influential in local government, responsible for implementing Council policy, managing city staff, and coordinating with state and county agencies.

Residents who wish to weigh in may attend the June 23 City Council meeting. Meeting details are available at madras.gov.