Firestorm Over Hillsboro City Councilor Salgado To Grow – “I Will Not Be Resigning”

The Real Story – A Column

By now, the flames that rose on Tuesday night over the Hillsboro City Hall should be smoldering after City Councilor Cristian Salgado caused chaos, which ended the meeting.  But it appears that the newest member of this Council, who was appointed (not elected), is about to pour gasoline on it and reignite the flames going into next Tuesday night’s special meeting.  While the media is somehow making this about Data Centers, nothing could be further from the truth.  That is why I write The Real Story.

What Happened?

The June 16th, 2026, meeting started innocently enough.  With Mayor Beach Pace still gone, Council President Rob Harris got the meeting going.  Shortly after the public comment period started.  The first speaker, Simone Campbell of Orenco, handed out a physical packet containing social media posts and online comments by Salgado.  Those packets raised questions about his online engagement with various people and were handed out, with one sitting in front of each Councilor.  I was not able to attend this meeting, so I watched from home.  As Campbell made her comments, something happened off-camera that I could not see. Neither could Harris apparently, as he and the other Councilors were looking at the audience from the dais.  As she started, Salgado, who was sitting at the far end next to City Manager Robby Hammond and attorney Chad Jacobs, raised his phone and filmed her.  Campbell told me she did not see him do that as she was focused on delivering her comments, which we have included below.   As Salgado filmed, audience member waiting their turn to speak reacted nonverbally – but as Campbell finished her words, things erupted.  You will see in this video that the playout provides a better perspective on why the meeting ultimately ended.

The Real Story

The Oregonian and others made a blowup about Data Centers. Why?  Someone’s false version of the truth.

As Campbell finished her comments, a woman rose in anger and pointed at Salgado, speaking loudly. Her name is Antonia Lopez, but she is better known as “Tony”.   Councilor Harris immediately began reading her the legal statement to those who were being disruptive.  As he did, audience members rose and booed, with some saying “he blew a kiss at her,” pointing to Salgado, who was still filming from the dais.  Harris did not understand, and as Tony continued to protest and be heard, he read her a second warning.  That prompted Councilor Dr. Olivia Alcaire to respond to Harris, stating that taunting the audience from the dais was inappropriate.  With Harris still not grasping at all what Salgado had done, the mess continued.  Councilor Saba Anvery made a statement regarding Council rules 9 & 10 on conduct aimed at Salgado, who was still filming.  This blow-up you will see in the video above.

Did Salgado blow a kiss at Tony?  Four members of the audience have messaged the Herald that she did.  Why would he film Campbell, and why would he have the inclination to do that?

“I did not intentionally blow a kiss to taunt anybody; that is absolutely ridiculous,” Salgado said in a Statement to the Hillsboro News Times.

Tony is a very passionate community leader, and there has been a history between her and others here in Hillsboro, and Councilor Salgado, where online comments have become unprofessional, to say the least.   Tony has come before the Council many times on a wide variety of topics, and perhaps a month ago, she testified to the Council about Councilor Salgado’s behavior and his public treatment of her.

“You slandered me publicly…..your behavior is beneath that of a public servant,”  she stated in this video as she addressed the Council. Tony, who is not known for holding her tongue, publicly made this statement so there can be no doubt that Salgado would have issues with her.

 

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“She was sexually harassed. She was sexually harassed. I’m just going to ask. What are you going to do about it?” Audience members to Councilor Harris.

Harris called for a recess for everyone to cool off.  Chaos ensued, and Salgado continued filming as he left the dais and went outside.  During this time, Councilor Kipperlyn Sinclair calmed the audience and pleaded for calm and peace, and after a time, she removed herself from the meeting after she tried to reason with Salgado.  She made the following statement:

Civic engagement is critical for shaping our communities and ensuring responsive governance.

Tonight I walked out due to the lack of order on the dais. As elected leaders we must do better for the residents of our community.

Alcaire and Anvery were seen speaking to members of the audience and clearly trying to sort things out.  Attorney Jacobs repeatedly spoke to Salgado about de-escalating the situation to no avail.  He also addressed Ms. Lopez, who appears to be planning to file formal complaints. Simone Campbell, Jacob Roloff, and a host of others sat in order, hoping the meeting would continue.

The meeting eventually reconvened.  Harris made a brief statement, then moved to cancel the meeting on the grounds of what had happened. Alcaire and Anvery voted to keep things going; Councilors Case, Salgado, and Harris voted to adjourn.  Still filming, Salgado walked out to face an angry Ms. Lopez, who got into his path to challenge the blown kiss and his behavior.  As he left, he was still filming.

The Aftermath

This was a very sad night.  Cristian brought passion and ideas during the ICE crisis earlier this year.  He worked hard to create a Civil Rights and Humanitarian department that he wanted to see established inside City Hall.  That was something many supported, including the Herald.  Having said that, this incident, which was not about Simone handing out some social media comments, has been brewing for some time.   Politicians really don’t get to go online, make strong comments, argue with members of the public, or tell them things like “You’re not my constituent” without repercussions.  And the more the online exchanges go on, the more personal and energy-filled they become.  And it is clear that this is exactly what happened here.

Cristian, as he filmed himself on the break from the back patio, stated,

“They are not coordinated at all. They’re not working with each other at all.  It’s all a coincidence.”

As he re-entered the Shirley Huffman auditorium, he exchanged comments with a gentleman who had been watching the meeting.  While we can not hear the question in Christian’s live stream, it was aimed at the audience members, and we can hear him respond.

“It’s like 5 or 6 of them….one of the Councilors is paying them to come here.  They are being egged on by one of the Councilors…they haven’t done shit the last 8 years, so they need a distraction.”

You will find that exchange at about 13:44 of the film I have inserted below.

This is a false statement and a serious accusation.  He clearly aimed this statement at Councilor Sinclair or Alcaire.  No matter who it is aimed at, it is false.  These speakers, he mentions, may have come to know each other, but they are not coordinated or paid.  I reject that, and the Council has accomplished so much in 8 years that it cannot even be listed.

Provided he leaves his live feeds up, which he has so far, they are worth watching.  We see the evening’s events through his eyes.  We see Simone; we see the audience erupt; we see the attorney Jacobs and others try to reason with him; we see, from beginning to end, his view of it.

This is either genius or stupid to leave this up.  If the video is gone, it has been removed by Councilor Salgado.

And here is part two after the break, and to the end. If the video is gone, it has been removed by Councilor Salgado.

Simone Campbell and the People of Hillsboro- What We Are Owed

Ms Campbell is owed an apology by the City.  I believe Councilor Harris has done so now.  See her excellent and measured responses in the post below.  But she is owed more than that.  And Tony is owed the respect of not being taunted, baited, and objectified.  At times, her language is profane but should never be mistaken for ignorance.  This is someone so formidable that when channeled on community issues, she is unmatched.

What they, and all of us, are owed is respect for the process and the sanctity of Public Comment.  In Hillsboro, we have no actual townhalls or ways to exchange our concerns with our Councilors and our City.   What we are owed is Council leadership and City Staff who would have caught this and stopped it.  Once City Manager Hammond or Attorney Jacobs saw what Cristian was doing, kiss or no kiss, the meeting should have stopped.  Period.  If we do not have a process for doing that, it must be addressed immediately.  Do we have a Sergeant at Arms?  We do not, and we probably need one now.

IF WE HAVE A PROCESS FOR REMOVING CITIZENS FROM A MEETING. WE BETTER DAMN

WELL HAVE ONE FOR REMOVING A COUNSELOR.

Councilor Harris was in a tough spot, again.  Pace being gone for a month has not helped.  Being a lawyer gives him an extra layer of knowledge and, perhaps, concerns about liability, so he uses an abundance of caution and patience. Still, the minute he realized what had happened, Cristian Salgado should have been sanctioned or asked to leave.  Perhaps canceling the meeting was the only way to go.

This photo was shot by Jacob Roloff, who was waiting his turn to address the Council. Sen, here is Simone Campbell speaking, and Cristian Salgado filming her from the dais

Hillsboro residents, please read:

I appreciate Council President Harris’s statement condemning Councilor Salgado for “intentionally antagonizing an audience member” at the 06/16/26 meeting.

I am Simone Campbell, a Hillsboro resident in Ward 1. I speak only for myself.

I have submitted a Code of Conduct complaint citing Council Rules 9 and 10 regarding decorum and respect for the public. I trust the City Attorney and City Council to follow their established process.

I am not affiliated with any campaign for City Council. My interest is in ensuring public meetings remain safe, respectful, and accessible for all Hillsboro residents. #hillsborolistens

Councilwoman Alcaire Speaks Up – A Voice Of Experience

Conclusion-

Councilors Sinclair, Case, and Anvery are calling for Cristian Salgado to be publicly censured or to resign.   Should they be able to convince him to resign, the Mayor and her slate will pick a replacement they like and place them in his seat.  Presumably, that will be a candidate Mayor Pace has hand-selected or endorsed, as happened when Cristian came to power.  Beyond what Cristian actually did, there is a political element to this, and getting him out now and a future Councilor ahead of the election will become very important to the power base that supports big business and data centers in Hillsboro.  The winds of change are here, and we see it all around us.  Did Salagado’s actions play right into the hands and narrative of the politics of the day?

Can they even get rid of him if he chooses not to resign?  As of this AM, he says there is no way he is.  

Let’s break this down: How could Cristian Salgado be removed from office? 

What the City Council Can Do- based on a preliminary review of the Charter:

While the council cannot fire him, they can use their collective power to discipline him:

Censure: The council can take a formal vote to “censure” him. A censure is an official, public reprimand declaring that his behavior violates the council’s code of conduct or ethics rules. It does not remove him from office, but it is a severe political mark on his record.

Strip Assignments: The Mayor and Council can strip him of any committee assignments, liaison roles, or external board seats he holds on behalf of the city.

Request Resignation: The council can formally and publicly ask for his resignation, putting immense political pressure on him to step down, though he can refuse.

The ONLY Ways the Council Can Declare a Seat Vacant
The City Charter allows the council to declare a seat vacant and remove a member only under very strict, objective circumstances. Usually, these include:

Unexcused Absences: If a councilor misses a specific number of consecutive meetings (often 30 to 60 days’ worth) without the council’s formal permission.

Conviction of a Crime: If the councilor is convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude while in office.

Loss of Residency: If the councilor moves out of the city limits or the ward they were elected to represent.

How Removal Could Actually Happen: The Recall – this is a long citizen process.  And with elections this Fall, including Salgado’s seat, this may be the fastest way he leaves office.

Nothing about what happened is pretty.  Kiss or no kiss, this is a mess.  And it is also a distraction to the Data Center crisis and other important matters that affect the entire population of the City of Hillsboro.  Cristian is getting plenty of advice.  Much of it, I am sure, is to apologize and to fall on his sword, etc.  I will only offer that he is a young man with a family.  He has allowed online debates and the war of words to ruin his current situation.  His best way forward is to address those who feel wronged and ask for forgiveness, and even where none should be offered, it can often be found.  This event will go down as one for the ages, but in 12 months or so, it will be forgotten.  I do not believe Cristian has any mathematical chance of winning his seat this Fall.  I do think he will move past this and go on to redeem himself, or at least, like for all people, including myself, I hope the best version rises.  I wish that for all of us.

I want to personally thank Simone Campbell, Tony, Brown, Jacob, and all the brave people of our Community for coming forward and speaking every week, and I encourage you to continue to do so.  Thanks to the Councilors for the most part, who responded as best they could.

It sounds like we are getting a special meeting next Tuesday to finish up the meeting that was canceled.  The Herald will advise everyone if this is on Zoom or in private.

Here is Cristian Salgado’s post today.  Should he stand on his actions and finish his term, it will reveal quite a lot about Hillsboro, our process, and himself.  Here is to better days ahead.

 

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A post shared by Councilor Cristian Salgado (@growwithcristian)

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