MEET BILL MONAHAN – CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR
Make a Change. Vote for Bill. Bring Back a Better Tigard.
Why I’m Running For Mayor In 2026
I have lived in Tigard since 1982 and served in city leadership for more than sixteen years. I also managed the City of Milwaukie during a major period of change, including the arrival and opening of the Orange Line, and have worked with more than a dozen regional jurisdictions as a contract city attorney. My experience as a planning and community development director, city manager, and legal counsel has given me a deep understanding of how local government works. I have helped mayors and city councils run effective meetings, complete projects, pass bond measures, and respond to community needs. I have also trained councils throughout the region on local government, ethics, land use, and effective council-manager-staff relationships.
Why Now
Now retired from local government, I have the expertise, reputation, commitment, and time to serve my adopted hometown. My career as a local government leader and legal counsel has prepared me to help the council work effectively with Tigard’s new city manager and become a strong, productive team. The city must get important projects back on track after several less productive years. Although in May voters rejected the $150 million bond measure, Tigard still needs improved police and public works facilities, and those needs must be addressed through affordable options voters can support. Tigard needs a new voice as mayor to begin that improvement process. It also needs a leader who understands local government, municipal law, land use and planning, and how an effective council should operate. Showing up matters, but applying relevant knowledge and experience to get results matters more. I am ready to serve again and help Tigard become the community our residents want and deserve.
Bill Monahan will:
Lead with integrity, experience, transparency, and accountability
Listen to, represent, address, and respect citizen concerns
Work to develop reasonable solutions to police facilities needs
Focus on delivery of core services that citizens need and can afford
Restore and retain library services
Promote economic development through sustainable growth while supporting local businesses
Build strong working relationships with council members, the city manager, and the community
Work to restore public trust
Maintain public safety levels that Tigard residents and businesses need to feel secure
Collaborate with local stakeholders and community organizations to address social issues while promoting equity and justice
MAKE A CHANGE.
VOTE FOR BILL.
BRING BACK A BETTER TIGARD
Citizens to Elect Bill Monahan | 503-805-3268 citizenstoelectbillmonahan.com
Let us be a better Tigard. The actions of the mayor and city council during the past two years have brought instability, missteps, and wasteful decisions. Since early 2025, both the mayor’s office and the city manager’s office have lacked steady leadership. As an experienced professional with a record of practical, common-sense solutions, Bill will provide the leadership needed to help get Tigard back on course.
Tigard needs improved facilities. It is time to restore transparency and pursue affordable solutions to facility needs that voters can support. Bill is committed to serving Tigard by working toward practical answers, strengthening leadership of the city council, making the council more responsive to the community, and building a productive relationship with the new city manager.
Why Bill?
Bill’s education and life experience focuses on serving the community. Bill holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Stonehill College, a master’s degree in Community Planning from the University of Rhode Island, and a Juris Doctor degree from Lewis & Clark College. He is a Life Member of ICMA, as a Credentialed City Manager until retirement, and is a retired member of the Oregon State Bar.
Bill’s career gives him a practical perspective on solving local government problems.
Bill has a history of civic engagement. Bill has been active in Tigard since 1982. He has been a Tigard Rotary Club member for more than 20 years, serving twice as president. He also served as president of the Tigard Area Chamber of Commerce, participated on city volunteer committees, served on the Broadway Rose Theatre Company board of directors, and coached his daughter’s soccer teams. For over 25 years, he and Linda have led the Adopt-a-Street litter patrol team for a portion of Durham road.
Tigard needs a new voice. Tigard needs a mayor who understands local government, municipal law, land use, planning, and how an effective council operates. Bill has the expertise, reputation, commitment, and time to serve. He will help get important projects back on track, including funding improved police and public works facilities through affordable options voters can support. Showing up matters but using relevant knowledge and experience in local government to deliver results matters even more.
What Has Happened To The Tigard We Know and Want To Be? Bill’s Observation:
Leadership Instability and Administrative Turnover
Over the past two years, Tigard has experienced changes in mayoral leadership and repeated turnover in city administration. The public was not fully informed about the internal conflict and apparent dysfunction surrounding the investigation of the former mayor, who resigned in September 2025. The current mayor was appointed from the council soon after.
Since early 2025, Tigard has relied on a series of short-term administrative leaders:
An interim city manager from January to May 2025
The assistant city manager serving in an acting role for one month
An appointed city manager from June to October before going on leave and resigning
The assistant city manager again serving in an acting role from October into mid-March when she went on leave and resigned in June
The public works director serving as acting city manager after the assistant city manager went on leave in March
The eventual hiring of a permanent city manager
During this eighteen-month period, the city manager’s office had both funded full-time professional positions working together less than half the time. At other times, positions were temporary, vacant, or covered by the public works director while also managing public works responsibilities.
Why Stable City Management Matters
A council-manager form of government works best when a qualified city manager has a fully staffed office and a strong working relationship with the council. The mayor serves as the city manager’s primary council contact, so that relationship must be grounded in trust, truth, and transparency.
When that partnership works well, the city operates more efficiently, council goals move forward, meetings are more productive, department heads receive clearer direction, and the public is better informed.
Missed Opportunities to Rebuild Trust
Tigard’s problems began before the public learned of the investigation into the former mayor. The report indicated that staff concerns may have been ignored, minimized, or left unresolved. The city’s culture suffered, some employees resigned, and after the mayor stepped down, the council had an opportunity to rebuild trust, improve the workplace culture, and deliver core services more transparently.