Three Washington County commissioners want to strip Chair Kathryn Harrington of her meeting duties and most of her $145,840 salary unless she resigns.
Commissioners Jason Snider, Jerry Willey and Pam Treece issued a joint statement Thursday, Sept. 17, calling Harrington's conduct at a Sept. 15 board work session unacceptable.
They plan to bring a formal censure resolution before the board at a regular meeting tentatively set for Thursday, Oct. 1.
The county board governs Beaverton and oversees a $2 billion budget.
The move follows Harrington directing an obscene gesture at Commissioner Nafisa Fai during the Sept. 15 session, as first reported by the Valley Times. County video of the work session captured the exchange.
What the censure would do
If Harrington does not resign, the proposed resolution would:
- Replace her as facilitator of board meetings
- Remove her as the primary liaison to county staff for preparing agendas
- Require her to attend all future county meetings virtually
- Require any meetings between Harrington and county staff to be virtual and observed by another commissioner
- Revoke her security access to nonpublic county facilities
The three commissioners also plan to ask Harrington to voluntarily reduce her compensation to payments covering only her medical and dental insurance. The chair position pays $145,840 a year, according to The Oregonian/OregonLive.
The commissioners acknowledged they cannot force Harrington off the board. The Washington County charter and state law give the board no authority to remove an elected chair.
Harrington steps back but stays
On the same day the statement was released, Harrington announced she would step back from her chair responsibilities to focus on mental health treatment but would remain on the board.
Her term expires Jan. 3, 2027, and she did not run for reelection.
Vice Chair Willey has already taken over presiding duties. Commissioner Snider will fill that role when Willey is unavailable.
Fai declines to join resignation demand
Commissioner Fai, the target of the gesture, did not sign the joint statement. She told KGW on Sept. 17, "I respect the decision and the different opinions in that, but ultimately that decision is with Chair Harrington herself."
Fai and Treece are running against each other to replace Harrington as county chair in a November runoff, according to The Oregonian/OregonLive.
Treece said she would remove Harrington's endorsement from her campaign website and return a recent $10,000 contribution from Harrington.
The Sept. 15 incident is not the first complaint about Harrington's conduct.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reported she has been the subject of at least two prior investigations into her treatment of county employees, including an allegation in March 2026 that she yelled at a staff member.
The board meeting is open to the public.
