Madras Mayor Mike Lepin will not seek re-election this fall, he confirmed to the Madras Pioneer on June 2 — leaving the city's top elected seat open just as Madras grapples with simultaneous vacancies in three key administrative positions.

Lepin's Reasoning

Lepin, whose two-year term ends in December 2026, has served as mayor since 2023. He previously served on the Madras Planning Commission and City Council before winning the mayor's seat. He works as EMS deputy chief at Jefferson County Fire and EMS.

"I think part of it is you always want to be able to make sure you finish something or you fix something," Lepin said.

He cited the added demands on his time at Jefferson County Fire and EMS as a key factor in the decision.

"I've had some extra duties put on top of me with the loss of certain personnel here, since we've had to let certain people go, and I really do not have the bandwidth to give the attention that both the city and the fire department deserve."

Lepin called the decision "a real struggle" but said stepping away is the right call.

A City in Transition

Lepin's departure announcement comes during a difficult stretch for Madras city government. Three major administrative positions are currently unfilled by permanent staff:

  • City Administrator — Will Ibershof resigned in January 2026, effective immediately. Interim administrator David Clyne has been serving since April, with a contract set to expire in early August.
  • Police Chief — Tim Plummer was fired in July 2025 following a performance review.
  • Finance Director — Kate Knop resigned in March 2026, mid-budget-cycle.

At the city's first budget meeting of the year, held June 4, Clyne addressed the situation directly.

"I think most of you are aware that this was a difficult year at the city. We went through a lot of turnover, not the least of which at the top leadership level."

Clyne is also advocating for reinstating the city's Human Resources Director position, which was previously eliminated. The budget meeting discussed possible structural reorganization of city staff to stabilize operations going forward.

What Comes Next

The mayoral race will be on the November 2026 ballot. No candidates have yet publicly announced their intention to run for the seat. With the city facing simultaneous recruitment for three key administrative posts, the next mayor will inherit both ongoing searches and the task of rebuilding institutional stability at City Hall.

Residents interested in running for mayor or seeking information about the November election can contact the Jefferson County Elections office at 66 SE D Street, Suite C, Madras.