Madras residents will have a rare opportunity to weigh in on who leads their city government. A public meet-and-greet for the three City Administrator finalists is scheduled for Wednesday, June 10, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at Initiative Brewing, 715 SW 4th Street in Madras.

The event, organized by Prothman -- the executive recruiting firm hired by the city -- will allow community members to meet the candidates, hear brief remarks, ask questions, and submit written feedback through comment cards. That feedback will be shared with the City Council during its deliberations.

The Three Finalists

  • Brenda Fahey -- Currently serves as Assistant City Manager and Human Resources Director for the City of The Dalles, Oregon.
  • Maurice Henderson II -- A Partner and Co-Founder of Two Degrees, a management consulting firm.
  • Jody Yates -- Currently the Maintenance Operations Group Director for the City of Portland Bureau of Transportation.

What Happens Next

Final interviews for all three candidates will take place Thursday, June 11, at Madras City Hall, involving panels of City Council members, staff, and external stakeholders. Under Oregon Public Meetings Law, those interviews and subsequent Council deliberations will be conducted in executive session, closed to the public.

Following the interviews, the Council may select a preferred candidate and direct staff to begin contract negotiations. Any proposed employment agreement would return to the Council for approval at a public meeting.

Why This Hire Matters

Madras has been without a permanent City Administrator since Will Ibershof resigned suddenly in early January 2026. The city has been operating with an interim administrator since then, navigating significant challenges including leadership turnover, an open police chief position, a finance director vacancy, and a looming June 30 budget deadline.

Interim administrator Gary Clyne, who has stepped into similar roles at six Oregon cities since retiring in 2018, has described the top priority as catching up on finances and finalizing a budget before the deadline. He has also called for a unified vision from city leadership going forward.

Wednesday night is the public’s only direct opportunity to meet the candidates before a decision is made. The event is free and open to all Madras residents.