After more than five months without a permanent city administrator, Madras has a new leader for City Hall. The Madras City Council voted Monday evening to finalize an employment agreement with Brenda Fahey, naming her the city’s new city administrator following a months-long search process.
Fahey currently serves as the assistant city manager and human resources director for the City of The Dalles, where she has built more than 25 years of public sector experience. She is expected to step into her new role next month.
The council identified Fahey as its preferred candidate earlier this month after a public meet-and-greet at Initiative Brewing in Madras, where three finalists — Fahey, Maurice Henderson II, and Jody Yates — answered questions from community members over a 90-minute event on June 9.
Stability After Turnover
The hire comes after a turbulent stretch for Madras city government. The council accepted the resignation of former City Administrator Will Ibershof in January, effective January 14, leaving the city without permanent leadership as it faced a busy spring agenda including budget work, housing planning, and infrastructure decisions.
City leaders have framed the hire as a stabilizing moment. Fahey’s background in human resources is seen as particularly relevant given staffing challenges that have plagued the city in recent years.
“After months of leadership turnover at City Hall, this is a move they hope will bring stability to the city,” the Madras Pioneer reported earlier this week.
A Busy Inbox Awaits
Fahey will inherit a full plate. The city is in the early stages of planning a major downtown waterline project intended to unlock high-density housing, a project that is up for a key design grant vote this week. Madras is also navigating ongoing discussions about its animal shelter contract, urban renewal planning, and broader growth pressures driven by Central Oregon’s continued population increases.
She will also be stepping into a city that has been working to rebuild trust with residents who have raised concerns about transparency and communication during the interim period.
Fahey’s hire was applauded by community members who attended the June 9 forum. Residents described her as poised, experienced, and direct during the Q&A session.
The City of Madras has not yet announced an official start date, but sources indicate it will be sometime in July 2026. The Madras Bulletin will report further details as they become available.