The City of Madras is in the final stretch of its city administrator search, with three finalists having met the public last week at a community forum in Madras. The Madras City Council is now gathering feedback before making a selection to lead city operations.

The Three Finalists

The finalists bring diverse backgrounds in public administration, transportation management, and management consulting:

  • Brenda Fahey — Currently serves as assistant city manager and human resources director for the City of The Dalles, a city of similar size and regional character to Madras with deep ties to the Columbia River and agriculture economy.
  • Jody Yates — Maintenance operations group director at the Portland Bureau of Transportation, bringing large-agency infrastructure experience.
  • Maurice Henderson II — Partner and co-founder of Two Degrees, a management consulting firm specializing in organizational leadership.

Public Forum at Initiative Brewing

The City hosted a public meet-and-greet on Wednesday, June 11, at Initiative Brewing, 715 S.W. 4th Street in Madras. Residents were given the opportunity to ask questions and submit written comment cards. The City Council plans to review that public feedback as part of its deliberations.

Why the Role Matters

The city administrator oversees the day-to-day operations of city government, manages department heads, and serves as the chief liaison between elected officials and city staff. Madras has been operating with interim leadership in the role, and finding a permanent administrator is seen as a priority for tackling the city's infrastructure, housing, and economic development challenges.

Madras is at an important crossroads: the city has been navigating questions about industrial development (officials recently confirmed no data center proposal is under consideration), the future of the aquatics district, and broader Jefferson County economic growth efforts.

What Comes Next

The City Council will review public input collected from the June 11 forum before making a final selection. No timeline has been officially announced for when the hire will be finalized, but the process has been moving steadily through the spring.

Residents who were unable to attend the forum but have input to share can contact the City of Madras directly through its website at madras.gov.

Separately, candidate filing is now open for residents interested in running for Mayor or Madras City Council seats in the November 2026 election.