Despite more than a dozen empassioned citizens providing very thoughtful testimony to the Washington County Commisioners this past Tuesday night, the County Commissioners adopted a revised policy resolution that replaces diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) terminology with new language—“access” and “opportunity”—in a move aimed at preserving over $135 million in annual federal funding.
Led by County Chair Karthryn Harrington, the Commissioners voted not to add an amendment by Commissioner Nafisa Fai and to ram through a sweeping new Resolution that effectively gutted the DEI policies that had been in place for many years. No one wanted this, and that was clear from all of the testimony given. Anyone living in this County who watched this debacle play out, orchestrated to a tee by the bully of the Dais (Harrington), knows why we should be ashamed of her leadership. Commissioners Treece and Willey were not much better as they seemed distracted and just wanted the meeting to end. It’s not that they felt they had a choice. But it was their body language, unwillingness to listen, and lack of eye contact with those community leaders and citizens, including two impassioned teenagers who came forward, that told all of us who witnessed it that they don’t care what anyone else had to say; the decision was already made.
The Video clip above (source County YouTube feed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0DUHLJTkgM&t=7573s) shows seated and highly respected Hillsboro City Councilor Kipperlyn Sinclair speaking about the need for more time and the lack of Community engagement. As she tries to finish, she is brutally cut off by Harrington and then chided by former Mayor Willey, who displays disdain for her. The audience disapproves of the lack of courtesy of a few more seconds, and Harrington immediately threatens them. This is just one example of how Harrington shoved this Resolution through and battled with the audience with even the slightest murmur of disapproval. She threatened on several occasions to take the meeting into private offices and finish the Resolution.
Harrington In The Spotlight
Let’s not forget Harrington is being investigated for possible abuses towards Clean Water Services staff as we speak. This is costing all of us ratepayers a cool $50,000- https://www.oregonlive.com/watchdog/2025/06/embattled-sewer-ceo-accused-board-chair-of-creating-hostile-work-environment-before-departure.html
This investigation follows the 2021 investigation of her abusive treatment towards her own staff- https://www.koin.com/news/special-reports/washco-chair-harringtons-explosive-tendencies-in-spotlight/
And today the Herald has still not received requested Public Information disclousres seeking receipts and documentation of the spending by CWS on Harrington and other Board Members for elaborate travel, meals, hotels, and more. Those requests have gone unanswered and are now the subject of the Atoorney General and Secretay of State official complaint.
Immediately after all these community leaders and members had finished their well-thought-out testimony, which had taken hours of their time to prepare, Harrington called for the Vote. Not a word about the comments, no debate, no thoughtful discussion- nope. She orchestrated the passage of the matter in record time despite Commissioner Fai trying to gain support for an amendment to insert a protective clause into the Resolution.
Transcript:
[Commissioner Nafisa Fai]
“Chair, I move to amend the motion on the table to include the following paragraph in the Access and Opportunity Resolution and Order:
‘Whereas the State of Oregon has enacted laws establishing Oregon as a sanctuary state, limiting the use of public resources to enforce federal immigration laws and affirming the rights of all residents to access services without discrimination.’”[Chair Kathryn Harrington]
“We have heard a motion for an amendment. Is there a second to the amendment?”(pause)
“Hearing no second to the amendment, the amendment is tabled.”
(Audience Boos Lightly at the lack of a second)
[Chair Harrington]
“Folks, folks, folks—if you don’t stop, I’ll reconvene this meeting over Zoom, okay? You can all keep one another company, and we’ll have the meeting in our offices from Zoom. So please stop. Please stop.”“Please stop. Okay? Otherwise, I don’t want to go there.”
[Chair Harrington]
“Go ahead, Commissioner Willie. The floor is yours.”[Commissioner Jerry Willey (likely Willey]
“To those of you in the audience: we had a work session and an executive session on this resolution and order, including Commissioner Fai’s proposed addition. We asked our legal counsel whether this addition would change the impact of our resolution and order—possibly putting us more at risk of not being able to access these funds, which, by the way, every one of you will be impacted by the lack of.”More audience boos
[Chair Harrington]
“Ladies and gentlemen, please silence yourselves. This is our time to speak from the dais. If you would like to go and cheer on whatever you want, you can do so from the work session room, but not in here. Not while we’re having our board discussion and deliberation. Thank you.”[Commissioner Willey continues]
“We were advised by our legal counsel not to add this additional ‘whereas’ to our resolution and order. So we are going to comply with legal advice—because that’s what we pay them to do: give us legal advice.”“That’s what we’re doing, and that’s why there’s no second to this motion.”
(Comment from the gallery)
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that comment. Thank you. I’d rather not have to eject people from the room.”
[Chair Harrington (to audience member)]
“Please stop, sir, or you’ll have to leave the room. Do you understand?”
Their decision follows a 2025 executive order issued by President Donald Trump, directing that federal funds not be used to “promote DEI mandates” that conflict with civil rights laws. The ambiguous nature of that order prompted concern among Washington County officials, who feared that continuing to use specific DEI-related terms in grant documentation could jeopardize access to critical federal dollars. Rather than abandon its equity commitments outright, the Board opted to adopt new guiding principles designed to comply with federal directives while still aligning with state and local anti-discrimination standards. But now, as pointed out by Commissioner Fai, the door has been opened, and this vote weakens the County and the ability to say no to more mandates from the White House, thus creating a potential downward spiral of freedoms, protections, and the human rights we are guaranteed under the laws of Oregon and Washington County.
Because they are afraid of the Trump policies, and rightfully so, they acquiesced. And that’s a tough place to be as a County Commissioner, so we all get that. Still, there was no mention of joining and standing with Multnomah County and 60 other local governments who are suing the Trump Administration in court over these very same policies. In the end, this was about preserving money from the Federal Government over protecting our citizens- and there is no way to do both. Rather than abandoning its equity commitments outright, the Board attempted to adopt new guiding principles that would comply with federal directives while still aligning with state and local anti-discrimination standards. However, no one is certain if it will be effective.
Video Clipped From Washington County Public Channel On Youtube –https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0DUHLJTkgM&t=7573s
“I support this resolution to ensure our community receives the resources it needs,” said Fai, “but let it be known, I will continue to monitor these contracts. I will continue to hold our county accountable, and I will continue to fight for transparency, protection, and justice, because that’s what leadership requires.”
As in past meetings, Harrington repeatedly demonstrates that she does not value public comment or community input on many matters. She is a lame duck, and her departure from Washington County politics cannot come soon enough. Willey and Treece seem equally disengaged. Jason Snider was quiet and seemed to hate the position he was in, having to pass something so reprehensible.
Only Fai came out swinging for the average citizen and those in need of protection under the law. She leads with reason and measured analysis. She never took her eyes off one of those who gave testimony. She is engaged, and the people of Washington County need to rally around her as she advances her political career. These and other recent efforts are any indication of how she plans to lead.
This was another low watermark as the age of Harrington continues.
The single best part of this was seeing people come forward and fight for what they believe in. Especially the young people —and the diversity of those testifying was reflective of the very diverse County we all live in. Very well done, everyone.
As a senior citizen it was uplifting to see the young people who came to speak in support of keeping our diverse community safe. It is going to take their strength and commitment to see us through these dark times. Commissioner Fai is to be celebrated for giving us hope and encouragement to keep fighting.
The country belongs to them, so they need to start speaking up! And it was great to hear how brave they both spoke.