Washington County Commission Chair Kathryn Harrington announced her resignation Monday, nearly a week after she flipped off a colleague, prompting widespread calls for her to step down.
In a press release, the county announced Harrington’s last day will be Oct. 2.
In the meantime, Vice Chair Jerry Willey will lead commission meetings. Commissioner Jason Snider will take the lead if Willey is absent.
“I am grateful to the people of Washington County for the opportunity to serve them in our local county government,” Harrington said in the press release.
Washington County Commission Chair Kathryn Harrington, shown here in a July 2025 commission meeting, announced her resignation Sept. 21, 2026, after flipping off a colleague during a public meeting.
Holly Bartholomew / OPB
In the fallout over her obscene gesture toward Commissioner Nafisa Fai last week, Harrington initially said she would step back from her role as chair but remain on the commission while focusing on her mental health.
The rest of the commission said if she remained on the board, they would strip her of her county salary and require her to attend meetings virtually.
Harrington’s resignation means she will leave office three months early. She had decided earlier this year that she would not seek re-election. Her term was set to expire at the end of the year.
Fai is running against fellow Commissioner Pam Treece to replace Harrington as chair.
“We respect Chair Harrington’s decision to resign and appreciate her partnership in helping the County Board of Commissioners’ move work forward without interruption in service to the community and employees,” Snider said in the county’s release. “We will continue to work together in the weeks ahead to ensure a seamless transition and support her focus on taking care of her health at this time.”
