By Dirk Knudsen- The Real Story – A Column
Boy, you can not write a script better than real life- not when it comes to North Plains. Last year’s showdown pitted longtime power brokers using the “I’m A Local – Keep the Outsiders Out” mantra, while at the same time being funded by outside land owners and special interest groups, including tens of thousands in contributions from the Portland Metropolitan Realtors Association. Teri Lenahan (former Mayor who ran for City Council) and Russ Sheldon (Mayoral Candidate 2024) were both beaten in the elections last year and were heavily funded by outside interests. Both were primary proponents for doubling the size of the City and for putting Industrial users adjacent to new schools and beautiful residential neighborhoods. They leaned on that local play, while outsiders funded them.
The Herald tracked the money last year and mailers that were sent out to voters under the guise of being the North Plains Voters Guide, only to prove that it was sent by Jackson Farm Land, LLC- an Aloha, Oregon-based LLC that also owns a large parcel of land in the proposed map above. That LLC poured campaign funds into the elections account of Russ Sheldon, Teri Lenahan, and paid for that false Voters Guide. Beyond that, Sheldon himself, who is now the old guard favorite to be appointed Mayor this week at a special session in North Plains, created/directs the North Plains 1st PAC, which heavily donated to his campaign and Lenahan’s. Almost all of the tens of thousands of dollars raised by the PAC were from significant OUTSIDE interests who will directly reap the harvest of massive Urban Growth. All of this was covered last year.
North Plains Voters Assaulted By Outsiders And Landowners With False Mailers And More
Nine months after Sheldon, Lenahan, and the pro-growth slate were rejected, and the voters of North Plains overwhelmingly said NO to Growth, the tables have turned. This week, after the unexpected resignation of Mayor Ariel Goodwin due to health reasons, the City Council will appoint a new mayor.
The next 48 hours in North Plains may decide whether the city follows the clear will of its voters—or whether the old guard of landowners and pro-growth insiders manages a comeback by appointment. If you do not read further, but want to see wild politics with every form of passion, deception, trickery, and politics, Click the links below and watch these two events. It is going to be wild!
Process & Participation
For the special meeting, council agreed earlier this month to allow public comment—but only after all candidates finish their interview questions, and with a one-minute limit per speaker. That framing will matter in a heated room.
Meanwhile, the Sept. 15 packet highlights continuing concern about the city’s surety bond status and access—an issue bound up with compliance and internal controls. The agenda enumerates: “Surety Bond Information & Account Access Update.”
The same agenda sets an Executive Session under ORS 192.690(2)(i) for an employee evaluation, with media reporting restrictions—fuel for those wary of insider protection.
The Appointment Fight
On Tuesday, the Council will interview four applicants—then may move directly to an appointment via Resolution 2320, which fills the vacancy through January 9, 2029. There will be no election for the Mayor, and whoever is selected will drive the City onward.
Three submitted letters in the packet urge councilors to appoint Russ Sheldon, citing his prior 45% showing and urging the body to “tune out outside voices.” It’s a clear, coordinated push shaping the room before interviews even begin. In fact, the City Manager (Bill Reid) and his team go out of their way to state in the agendas linked above if someone who gave testimony or spoke at a meeting is a North Plains Outsider or a Resident. I find it very odd that Mr Reid doesn’t mention or identify all the land owners, consultants, attorneys, and others who are affiliated with the City of North Plains and its growth efforts as Outsiders, which they all most certainly are. In fact, almost all of the influencers around North Plains Growth and its future are outsiders. Only Sheldon, Reid, and Lenahan really pushed the city towards a Hillsboro-like level of expansion and then some. See Bonus Content at the bottom of this story.
Citizens vs. Landowners/Insiders
Nothing about this week is happening in a vacuum. Last fall, North Plains voters delivered that landslide NO to an 855-acre expansion—rejecting the growth machine and the outside money that fueled it. That upset created today’s mandate: transparency, accountability, and a pause on developer-driven planning.
Yet the Sept. 15 agenda still carries unresolved compliance questions (surety bond/account access) and formalizes the rules of Tuesday’s appointment process—while the Sept. 16 packet shows an orchestrated letter campaign to seat the runner-up from last year’s race.
And the appointment resolution is already drafted—blank spaces awaiting an appointee’s name—underscoring how swiftly this could move once interviews end.
What’s at Stake
The mayoral appointment isn’t just succession. It’s a referendum on whether leaders will honor a 3/4 voter mandate—or reset city direction in a single vote. Tuesday’s format reserves public comment to the end, one minute each; residents will need to be concise, organized, and present.
If the council wrestles with compliance, listens, and chooses a consensus-builder who reflects the electorate, trust can be rebuilt. If it doesn’t, expect a raucous two nights—followed by a longer season of scrutiny.
Our Take
The Real Story is a column. I do my research- more than anyone, I think, who speaks on these matters. If you are a North Plains leader, you have to reject Sheldon. His allegiance to outsiders and acceptance of their money is all the evidence anyone needs. As mayor, he will go on a torrent of growth, fast-track things, and likely bring in the lands of those he is obligated to and tied to. Not only that, but as a seated City Council member, he already holds considerable sway over the City and is there as a constant representative for growth. That could be a good thing if done right. He is secure in that role.
Sheldon, in the past, has failed to solve the issue of the City not complying with the State of Oregon Audit. In fact, according to the State of Oregon’s website, this AM, the City of North Plains is at least three years delinquent on filing financials as required by State Law. This falls on Sheldon and on City Manager Bill Reid, whom Sheldon made sure was hired, and who he appears to be tied to the hip with. The two survived, and an ethics complaint was brought last year.
Look at this:
THE ANNUAL SUMMARY OF REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES form has not been submitted- Let that sink in.
Anyone familiar with North Plains has likely heard accusations of various financial misdeeds or fund mismanagement. It is all over social media. So, how can a city grow when the people have no idea how much money there is, who is spending it, if any is missing, and whether the town is going bankrupt or healthy?
For this reason, I do not believe Sheldon or David Hatcher, both powerful old guard members who brought the city to the place it is now, can be the Mayor. If selected, I fully expect a recall and years of divisiveness. There is no getting around that.
I do not know enough about Don Weber, so I have no way to decide with him.
As a result, Mark DeForge is the best candidate. I know Mark. I did not think he was running, but I represented him and his family when they moved to North Plains. Mark has not asked for an endorsement. His financial acumen and CPA background are just what North Plains needs. He is not part of the old guard; he is not anti-growth. I think that he would bring a period of calm, thoughtful growth, and financial responsibility. He is a quiet, intelligent man with a friendly, loving demeanor. It doesn’t really matter what I think.
I really like North Plains. As I have mentioned before, I owned property there for years, and the experience was not great with City Hall. But the people have always been awesome. It is a great town.
Watch and Learn this week, everyone – go to the meetings if you can. Best of luck to everyone.
