Washington County Chair Kathryn Harrington announced on Thursday she plans to step back from her role leading the county board of commissioners but remain on the commission.
Harrington’s announcement follows condemnation and calls for her resignation after she raised her middle finger in an obscene gesture directed toward fellow commissioner Nafisa Fai during a Tuesday work session.
Harrington said she would also seek mental health support.
“Tuesday’s behavior was a signal that I need to prioritize getting help and support right now,” she wrote in a statement. “I’m taking that seriously.”
Washington County Commission Chair Kathryn Harrington, seen here in a July 2025 meeting, plans to step back from her role as chair but remain on the commission.
Holly Bartholomew / OPB
In a statement Thursday night, three members of the Washington County Board of Commissioners acknowledged Harrington’s apology and shared their support in her efforts to seek help. The board members, like others, also condemned the chair’s behavior, calling it “unacceptable” and urging her to resign from her office immediately.
If Harrington doesn’t resign, the board members said they plan to take action, including replacing her as a facilitator at all future board meetings, requiring her to participate in meetings virtually and removing her security access to all non-public county facilities. They plan to discuss these and more at its board meeting on Oct. 1.
“In addition, we will be requesting that Chair Harrington voluntarily reduce her future compensation to just payments supporting her medical and dental insurance, until she separates from the County organization,” the board members said in a statement.
The joint statement was signed by commissioners Jason Snider and Jerry Willey, as well as Pam Treece, who is running against Fai for county chair.
The incident was not the first time Harrington was called out for troubling behavior. According to the Oregonian, Harrington has a history of bullying and belittling employees at the county.
In her statement Thursday, Harrington said Commissioner Snider will serve as chair temporarily. Vice Chair Willey will lead the commission when he returns from vacation.
Fai issued her own statement on the incident earlier this week.
“One of the reasons I decided to run is that the people of Washington County deserve a better standard of leadership in the Chair’s Office, and that is what people will get with me,” Fai said Tuesday.
Harrington is not running for re-election.
