Madras Navigates Leadership Transitions After Recent Departures

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The City of Madras, Oregon is currently navigating several leadership transitions, including the recent departures of an interim city administrator, the ongoing struggle to appoint a new police chief, and the resignation of the city's finance director. The City Council is overseeing city management collectively during this period as recruitment efforts move forward for these key leadership positions.

Why it matters

Madras is facing challenges common to many small and mid-sized cities, with leadership turnover and the need to maintain stable operations and service delivery to the community. The transitions highlight the importance of succession planning and the complexities involved in managing local government during periods of change.

The details

The Madras City Council appointed Public Works Director Jeff Hurd as Interim City Administrator in January 2026, but Hurd stepped down from that role in late February. With the city administrator position now vacant, the Council is operating in a council-managed structure, directing staff through formal Council action during public meetings. The Council is working to appoint an Interim City Administrator, with interviews scheduled for March. The search for a permanent City Administrator has also been launched. The Police Chief position has been under recruitment since July 2025, following the termination of the previous chief. An Interim Police Chief was appointed, but the Council was unable to reach an agreement with a preferred candidate, leading to a reopening of the recruitment. The City's Finance Director also recently resigned, and the Council is evaluating interim support options while determining the timeline for a permanent hire.

• On January 16, 2026, the City Council appointed Public Works Director Jeff Hurd to serve as Interim City Administrator.
• On February 26, 2026, Mr. Hurd notified the Mayor and City Council of his intent to step down from the Interim City Administrator role.
• On March 4, 2026, the City Council directed staff to begin scheduling interviews with candidates for an Interim City Administrator.
• On March 10, 2026, the City Council approved the position profile for the permanent City Administrator recruitment.
• On March 9, 2026, the City Council received the immediate resignation of the City's Finance Director.

What’s next

The City Council expects to review candidate materials for the Police Chief position later this month and determine whether finalists will be invited to participate in interviews anticipated to occur in April. The timeline for recruitment of a permanent Finance Director has not yet been determined as the City works through the current leadership transitions.