Editor’s Note: Since we published and laid down the gauntlet that Kathryn Harrington has to go, several politicians have jumped in to join the call. They include: State Rep. Travis Nelson, Sen. Courtney Neron Misslin, Rep. Ben Bowman, Rep. Sue Rieke-Smith, Yi-Kang Hu, Mayor of Tigard, Maureen Wolf, Tigard City Council President — and the list is growing by the minute.
HARRINGTON RESPONDS –Â 9-17-26
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 18, 2026 Contact: Kathryn@BeavertonMedia.com
Kathryn Harrington, Chair of the Washington County Board of Commissioners, pursuing mental health needs.
On Tuesday September 15, 2026, I formally and personally apologized to Commissioner Nafisa Fai, my other fellow district commissioner board members, to our Washington County workforce and the community for my unprofessional response to Commissioner Fai in our work session morning meeting. My reaction was very plainly not appropriate in any instance. I should not have behaved in such a hurtful manner.
Following my statement of Tuesday, I want to be clear about what I’m doing next.
I have spoken up several times in support of mental health needs and services. I have spoken openly about my mental health struggles. It is clear that on occasion I have failed to manifest the best qualities of an elected leader, and this is one of those times, which I regret.
Tuesday’s behavior was a signal that I need to prioritize getting help and support right now. I’m taking that seriously.
Effective immediately, I am stepping back from my responsibilities as Board Chair to focus on my mental health treatment. In time, I will continue my work as one member of the County Commission through the end of my term, January 3, 2027. Commissioner Jason Snider will serve as chair pro-tem when vice-chair Willey is not present.
As someone very aware of Washington County’s behavioral health services, I believe deeply in what we offer our community. Our county leads on mental health because we understand that when people are struggling, they need support. I’m modeling that belief by getting help.
I’m grateful to my colleagues and to this community for their patience as I work through this.
Kathyrn Harrington
That said, Ginny Ross and Washington County #Indivisibleare inviting everyone, including civic-minded groups and residents, to rally at the Washington County Courthouse to demand Harrington’s resignation! 9-22-2026 at 5:30 PM at the Washington County Public Services Building.
My Opinions here- yes- a well-earned. I have watched Kathryn Harrington, current Washington County Chair, for decades. Somewhere in my photo banks and on the socials, there is a photo of her and me at a campaign event when I supported her during her time at METRO. That was when I was younger and took people at their word. Huge mistake. Over time, everything she told me she represented was not reflected in her actions or policies. In my work in real estate, as a community leader, and in journalism, I have watched her, crossed paths with her, and read about her exploits and the exploitation of her positions.
Kathryn Harrington Must Resign or Be Censured
This person has not only damaged the Washington County Government as a trusted body, but has also caused significant financial harm in legal fees alone.
Rather than go into the Ethics charges she was written up on, the litigation she has created, the nasty behavior she shows towards others (staff, public, fellow commissioners), let’s focus on her actions yesterday that spilled all over social media (yes, we broke it) and then onto the evening news. What did she do?
Harrington was speaking to Commissioner Jason Snider. Sitting next to her was Commissioner Pam Treece, and between her and Snider was Commissioner Nafisa Fai. Now, the film of the meeting shows Harrington had a direct line of sight to Snider. But for some reason, Harrington could not abide Commissioner Fai sitting quietly and listening, and decided to admonish her for her head being in the way. Anyone who watches this video will see that this is not the case, but for months, Fai’s proposals that bucked Harrington’s wishes to save the Washington County Museum, to keep River Road from closing, or to put together a Data Center Task Force (to name a few examples) have been met with Harrington’s edicts.
After Fai tries to move her head, finding nowhere to turn it, Harrington, in a silent, calculating, and cold-blooded fashion, raises her middle finger at Fai, who has done nothing but remain present and silent. Harrington raises that middle finger and tells Fai nonverbally that she can just go right on and Fuck Off — and people are reporting feeling the undercurrent of raw emotion that finger seems to have loaded up in it, and all that goes along with it.
And it is not lost on those watching that Fai is Black, a muslim, and the antithesis of Harrington. Her calmness in the storm counters Harrington’s raw, visceral emotion and crude display. Here are some takes from what happened today-
And the list of news agencies jumping on this story, conservative and moderate outlets, has been widespread. Everyone wants in. But few know Harrington’s path of destructive behavior. Since the incident and the news tidal wave –
Councilor Pam Treece posted a statement condemning her long-time travel companion, Clean Water Services, and Washington County Commissioner, and immediately tried to distance herself — but that comes after Treece sat stoically and did NOTHING even when Fai asked for support and if anyone saw it or wanted to support her — nothing from Treece in the moment. Ans yes, she is running against Nafisa Fai for Harrington’s seat-
Fai herself was positive in her response despite having her work superior demean her and make her working environment untenable- such an action certainly is actionable at the HR and legal level-
Many other Politicians aligned with Harrington are posting on social media to support Fai and turn their backs on Harrington—the likes of Steve Callaway, Janeen Sollman, and Metro President Juan Carlos Gonzalez—fine—frame yourselves in the moment.
And then came some sort of Apology from Harrington, but it was later in the day, only after the avalanche had landed on her.
Action must be taken—no one has said it yet- so I will: Kathryn Harrington must resign (she likely won’t), She must be censured and barred from meetings and the building and relegated to Zoom through the end of her career, which is soon, or the County Commissioners need to make an equally impactful move.Â
This is what needs to happen next!
And lest you think that “Dirk is at it again”, let’s have a look at the record really quickly from her time at Washington County — just a few items that actually made the news-
Workplace conduct — the throughline story (2015–2026). Links provided by a deep dive into the internet for related articles.
2015 — Metro Council, precursor incident Then, Metro Council President Tom Hughes sent Harrington a memo saying she was “creating a climate of fear, hostility, anxiety, emotional distress” toward staff. This surfaced publicly later, in the 2021 KOIN reporting below.
Apr 19, 2022 — Portland Tribune, “Report says WashCo employees ‘fear’ Harrington” County DA’s office found the initially-released “condensed” version of the Tom report had “omitted significant findings”; a fuller redacted version followed a Pamplin appeal — worth a records request if you don’t already have the underlying report. https://portlandtribune.com/2022/04/19/report-says-washco-employees-fear-harrington/
Clean Water Services travel/spending controversy (2025)
Jun 30, 2025 — Cedar Mill News, “Clean Water Services spending controversy” Confirms Washington County hired Barran-Liebman LLP to investigate the allegations against Harrington; notes “she faced a similar investigation in 2022” [ties back to the Tom investigation above]. https://cedarmillnews.com/article/0725-clean-water-services-spending-controversy/
May 23, 2025 — Hillsboro Herald, “In The Dark Of The Night, The Clean Water Services Crisis Looks Even Darker” Alleges Harrington received travel benefits to Denmark, Laos, Singapore, Vietnam, and Hawaii. [Some figures here read as unverified claims rather than sourced/confirmed facts — worth checking against the OGEC record below before citing further.] https://hillsboroherald.com/in-the-dark-of-the-night-the-clean-water-services-crisis-looks-even-darker/
Workplace conduct — the throughline story (2015–2026)
2015 — Metro Council, precursor incident Then–Metro Council President Tom Hughes sent Harrington a memo saying she was “creating a climate of fear, hostility anxiety, emotional distress” toward staff. This surfaced publicly later, in the 2021 KOIN reporting below.
Apr 19, 2022 — Portland Tribune, “Report says WashCo employees ‘fear’ Harrington” County DA’s office found the initially-released “condensed” version of the Tom report had “omitted significant findings”; a fuller redacted version followed a Pamplin appeal — worth a records request if you don’t already have the underlying report. https://portlandtribune.com/2022/04/19/report-says-washco-employees-fear-harrington/
Clean Water Services travel/spending controversy (2025)
Jun 30, 2025 — Cedar Mill News, “Clean Water Services spending controversy” Confirms Washington County hired Barran-Liebman LLP to investigate the allegations against Harrington; notes “she faced a similar investigation in 2022” [ties back to the Tom investigation above]. https://cedarmillnews.com/article/0725-clean-water-services-spending-controversy/
May 23, 2025 — Hillsboro Herald, “In The Dark Of The Night, The Clean Water Services Crisis Looks Even Darker” [This is your own paper’s opinion/reporting piece — flagging since it mixes claims with editorializing per your standards.] Alleges Harrington received travel benefits to Denmark, Laos, Singapore, Vietnam, Hawaii. [Some figures here read as unverified claims rather than sourced/confirmed facts — worth checking against the OGEC record below before citing further.] https://hillsboroherald.com/in-the-dark-of-the-night-the-clean-water-services-crisis-looks-even-darker/
Oregon Government Ethics Commission — formal investigation (primary document)
Oct 10, 2025 — OGEC Public Session Meeting Book (PDF) Commission found a “substantial, objective basis” to investigate Harrington for possible violations of ORS 244.040(1), 244.060(5), and 244.120(2) — tied to CWS-funded travel (including Copenhagen and New York trips), undisclosed frequent-flier benefits, and missing information on her Statement of Economic Interest. Commissioner Pam Treece was investigated in parallel on similar travel-benefit grounds. https://www.oregon.gov/ogec/about-us/Documents/Commission%20Meeting%20Materials/2025/2025.10.10-Public-Session-Meeting-Book.pdf [This is the primary record — I’d treat this over any restatement, per your usual approach.]
May 8, 2026 — Hillsboro Herald, “Herald Endorses Nafisa Fai Over Pam Treece for Washington County” References the OGEC findings directly, characterizing both Harrington and Treece as having obtained “prohibited financial gains” via frequent-flyer benefits from CWS-funded travel. https://hillsboroherald.com/herald-endorses-nafisa-fai-over-pam-treece-washington-county/
Oregon Government Ethics Commission — formal investigation (primary document)
Oct 10, 2025 — OGEC Public Session Meeting Book (PDF) Commission found a “substantial, objective basis” to investigate Harrington for possible violations of ORS 244.040(1), 244.060(5), and 244.120(2) — tied to CWS-funded travel (including Copenhagen and New York trips), undisclosed frequent-flier benefits, and missing information on her Statement of Economic Interest. Commissioner Pam Treece was investigated in parallel on similar travel-benefit grounds. https://www.oregon.gov/ogec/about-us/Documents/Commission%20Meeting%20Materials/2025/2025.10.10-Public-Session-Meeting-Book.pdf [This is the primary record — I’d treat this over any restatement, per your usual approach.]
Weigh in below – who will make the next move? We will find out soon enough!
What an embarrassing display of white privilege. Harrington needs to take a walk like today. GET OUT! She and the rest of the status quo Dems in Oregon like Bonamici, Wyden, and yes Kotek who claim to be liberal but say nothing out loud about LGBTQ or ethnic genocide and when it comes to really considering quality of life for their constituents fall on the side of corporations, billionaires, and whatever lobby pays them the most. I for one am fed up! Vote for Nafisa, Kipperlyn, Diana, and Karim!
We will unquestionably need a change to county bylaws after all of this. As things stand, the Presiding Officer—who just so happens to be the chair of the County Commission—is responsible for preserving order and decorum, with the County Sheriff at their command. This very example is why that’s a terrible idea.
Meanwhile, let’s talk about the effectiveness of censure, especially within an election year. Even if a body censures a public official, it’s been made incredibly clear in this county that there’s either no will or means to enforce that censure if the subject of it, say, wants to open their big, cowboy-hatted yap on social media and discuss city and county business within public view.
Either give censure in these jurisdictions some teeth and begin suspending representatives from session for each transgression, or consider egregious violations (corruption, altercations with citizens, colleagues, and staff) worthy of expulsion.
What an embarrassing display of white privilege. Harrington needs to take a walk like today. GET OUT! She and the rest of the status quo Dems in Oregon like Bonamici, Wyden, and yes Kotek who claim to be liberal but say nothing out loud about LGBTQ or ethnic genocide and when it comes to really considering quality of life for their constituents fall on the side of corporations, billionaires, and whatever lobby pays them the most. I for one am fed up! Vote for Nafisa, Kipperlyn, Diana, and Karim!
This woman’s nasty attitude has been a problem for a long time. She needs to go!!!!
We will unquestionably need a change to county bylaws after all of this. As things stand, the Presiding Officer—who just so happens to be the chair of the County Commission—is responsible for preserving order and decorum, with the County Sheriff at their command. This very example is why that’s a terrible idea.
https://www.washingtoncountyor.gov/cao/documents/bcc-rules-procedure-3-18-25/download?inline
Meanwhile, let’s talk about the effectiveness of censure, especially within an election year. Even if a body censures a public official, it’s been made incredibly clear in this county that there’s either no will or means to enforce that censure if the subject of it, say, wants to open their big, cowboy-hatted yap on social media and discuss city and county business within public view.
Either give censure in these jurisdictions some teeth and begin suspending representatives from session for each transgression, or consider egregious violations (corruption, altercations with citizens, colleagues, and staff) worthy of expulsion.