After months of leadership instability at Madras City Hall, the City Council has selected Brenda Fahey as the city's next permanent city administrator — a hire officials hope will bring long-needed stability to a government grappling with staff vacancies, a strained relationship with county leadership, and growing community frustration.
The council made their selection on Tuesday, June 16, choosing Fahey from a field of three finalists during a special meeting. Fahey currently serves as assistant city manager and human resources director for The Dalles, where she has worked in public administration since 2001.
"The City Council is thrilled to announce our selection for our new city administrator," Mayor Mike Lepin said in a statement. "Brenda Fahey brings a great track record to our team. We are excited to work together to improve daily city services and better serve our community."
Filling a Void
The city administrator position has been vacant since Will Ibershof resigned in January 2026. Interim city administrator David Clyne stepped in during April and will remain through August. Fahey would transition into the permanent role beginning as early as July, pending finalization of an employment agreement.
Fahey will inherit a department with multiple key vacancies. The city is also searching for a new police chief and finance director — positions that were deliberately left unfilled while the administrator search was prioritized.
Community Engagement a Priority
In public interviews ahead of her selection, Fahey emphasized transparency and community trust as core to her approach — an acknowledgment that trust between residents and City Hall has frayed.
"Not only seeking out that feedback, but actually closing the loop and circling back with community members to let them know how their feedback was actually implemented," she said.
Fahey acknowledged the online discourse around city government and said rebuilding that trust is "an area of opportunity."
Economic Development and Public Safety
Fahey identified Madras Municipal Airport as an underutilized asset with potential to attract industrial businesses, and said she sees real opportunity for tourism development in the region. Her background with her husband and son in law enforcement, she said, also gives her valuable perspective on the challenges facing the Madras Police Department.
Interim administrator Clyne praised Fahey and offered Madras a parting reflection: "Madras has a long history of resilience, pride, and working together, and I know those qualities will continue to serve the City well in the years ahead."
If the employment agreement is approved by the council, Fahey will officially begin her role in July 2026.