After five months of leadership transition and an extensive nationwide search, the Madras City Council is set to vote tonight on an employment agreement with Brenda Fahey — the council’s preferred candidate for City Administrator.
The vote is scheduled for the June 23, 2026, City Council meeting. If approved, Fahey would step into the role in July, with an anticipated transition period before interim administrator David Clyne’s contract concludes on August 1.
Who Is Brenda Fahey?
Fahey currently serves as Assistant City Manager and Human Resources Director for the City of The Dalles, bringing more than 25 years of public sector experience to the table. Her background spans executive leadership, organizational development, human resources, labor relations, public communications, and budget management.
According to the city’s announcement, the selection followed a comprehensive process that included community engagement opportunities, staff and external interview panels, and formal interviews conducted by City Council members.
A Long Road to Stability
The search began in January when former City Administrator Will Ibershof abruptly resigned. Public Works Director Jeff Hurd briefly served as Interim City Administrator through February, followed by a period of Council-managed operations before David Clyne stepped in on April 6 as Interim City Administrator.
Interim Administrator Clyne, a retired city manager with experience at six Oregon cities, described Madras as an organization with a strong team and bright future — even as he noted the urgency of finalizing the city’s budget before the June 30 deadline.
“For whoever’s gonna step into this role, they’re gonna be very lucky and fortunate for the quality of life they will immediately inherit, and the good team of people they will be working with,” Clyne said in April.
What Comes Next
Tonight’s council meeting will be a pivotal moment for Madras city government. The City Administrator role is the administrative head of the entire city organization, responsible for implementing City Council direction, overseeing daily operations, and managing the city’s roughly 60 employees across all departments.
The city is also in the process of filling two other key leadership vacancies: Police Chief and Finance Director. With Fahey potentially in place by July, city leadership hopes to stabilize operations and begin addressing longer-term priorities.
The June 23 City Council meeting begins at Madras City Hall, 125 SW E Street. Community members are encouraged to attend.