politics

Gresham Mayor Shane Bemis Resigns, Says City Must 'Make Way For New Leaders'

By Rob Manning (OPB)
Portland, Ore. June 17, 2020 1:42 a.m.

The mayor of Oregon's fifth-largest city has announced he's resigning, effective Wednesday.

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Gresham Mayor Shane Bemis held the top elected job in the east Multnomah County city for the last 13 years, but said late Tuesday he was leaving office. In a lengthy Facebook post, Bemis said that he would step down to focus on running his restaurant.

Gresham Residents, Serving the City of Gresham for the past 18 years is the honor of my lifetime. I have watched this...

Posted by Mayor Shane Bemis on Tuesday, June 16, 2020

He called it "the most difficult decision I've ever faced" but said he had to prioritize his business and family.

"At the current moment, facing a pandemic, a rising, powerful, and necessary social justice movement, and the City’s budget woes, all while trying to keep my business afloat, is not tenable," said Bemis in his post.
Bemis said that leaving office now would allow city voters to elect a new mayor this November. The long-time mayor said he was also leaving in recognition of protests and efforts to increase racial equity in city government.
"[W]e must also be open to the idea that doing our best, at times, calls us to not try to lead from the front, making way for new leaders," Bemis said.
He called for business owner and former TriMet board member Travis Stovall to consider running for mayor.

"Travis has been intricately involved in the City of Gresham, serving on committees ranging from public safety, to affordable housing and community development," Bemis wrote. "Travis is also a black man."

Bemis said his resignation is effective at 9 a.m., Wednesday, June 17.

The Gresham city manager resigned last Monday and the police chief last Thursday, the Gresham Outlook reported. According to the paper, deputy city manager Corey Falls wrote a letter to other Gresham leaders saying the city failed to follow through on promises of equity and inclusion.

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