Camas, 2026
The mayor’s job is on the February 9 ballot.
On October 5 the council passed Resolution 26-014, 4–3. Boerke, Nohr, Svilarich, and Eshghi voted yes. Hein, Elzingre, and Senescu voted no. Proposition No. 1 asks Camas to drop mayor-council and adopt council-manager on January 1, 2028. It does not elect a mayor. If it passes, the council picks one of its own members as a ceremonial chair. A no vote keeps the mayor.
February 9, 2027 — Special election.
Proposition No. 1 asks voters to drop mayor-council and adopt council-manager, effective January 1, 2028. It does not elect a mayor. The city attorney said Camas’s wards make an elected ceremonial mayor legally unavailable on this ballot. If it passes, the council chooses one of its own members as a ceremonial chair. An elected mayor would take a later vote, and that later vote is not part of this measure. A no vote keeps the mayor.Timeline
2002 & 2018 — Prior attempts went nowhere.
Camas looked at council-manager twice before. Neither produced a ballot measure.
March 2, 2026 — Citizen committee created.
Council approved Mayor Hogan’s request for a Form of Government Citizen Committee.
June 1, 2026 — Committee recommends a switch.
The ad hoc committee told council to move to council-manager with an elected (ceremonial) mayor.
August 11, 2026 — Town hall at Zellerbach.
City town hall at the Camas School District Zellerbach Administration Center.
August 17, 2026 — Council votes 4–3 to draft a resolution.
Boerke, Nohr, Svilarich, and Eshghi voted yes. Hein, Elzingre, and Senescu voted no. Mayor Hogan does not vote.
October 5, 2026 — Next vote: put it on the ballot.
Resolution did pass and triggered a special election.
Boerke, Nohr, Svilarich, and Eshghi voted yes. Hein, Elzingre, and Senescu
voted no.
February 9, 2027 — Special election.
Voters will decide whether to replace Camas’s elected CEO mayor with a council-hired city manager.
January 1, 2028 — If it passes: ceremonial mayor.
Council Position No. 1 would serve as the new council “mayor.” The person who runs the city would be an employee, not a candidate.
August 17 roll call
This is the vote that moved a structural change toward the ballot. Some yes votes were framed as “let the people decide.” The resolution they voted to draft still proposes replacing an elected CEO with an appointed one.
4 voted to advance council-manager 3 voted to keep mayor-council Mayor does not vote
Voted to send council-manager to the voters
Marilyn Boerke · Ward 1 · Send council-manager to the ballot
mboerke@cityofcamas.us
“Based on my email, our email and the comments at the (Aug. 11) town hall, it was a preponderance, by a small margin, that wanted us to take this to our residents.”
Camas-Washougal Post-Record, Aug. 20, 2026
John Nohr · Ward 1 · Send council-manager to the ballot
jnohr@cityofcamas.us
“Sometimes people say, ‘If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.’ In fact, I think this particular system is broken. We are always one election away from chaos. When you have a seven-member council directing a city manager, you have a better form of control.”
Camas-Washougal Post-Record, Aug. 20, 2026
John Svilarich · At Large · Send council-manager to the ballot
Mahsa Eshghi · Ward 3 · Send council-manager to the ballot
Voted to keep mayor-council
Tim Hein · Ward 2 · Keep mayor-council
thein@cityofcamas.us
“What is the problem we’re trying to address by changing the form of government? Maintain the current hybrid form of government as it provides a structure of government that understands and supports the current and future needs of the city of Camas, establishes checks and balances for each executive leadership role within the city and mitigates risk during times of challenges and leadership in transition, while providing the participation and accountability to the electorate.”
Camas-Washougal Post-Record, Aug. 20, 2026
Martin Elzingre · Ward 2 · Keep mayor-council
Jennifer Senescu · Ward 3 · Keep mayor-council
jsenescu@cityofcamas.us
Presides; does not vote except to break a tie
Steve Hogan · Mayor · Does not vote
shogan@cityofcamas.us
Convened the citizen committee that recommended council-manager. Has said he will not run again: “I will happily retire from the job.” The mayor votes only to break a tie. OPB, Aug. 19, 2026. "If you think I'm neutral, you've read me wrong." July 20, 2026 City Council Workshop
Roll call from the Aug. 17, 2026 meeting, reported by the Camas-Washougal Post-Record and OPB. Use council@cityofcamas.us to reach the full council.
What they said for the changeBackers point to mayor turnover — three mayors in three years before Hogan — and to growth. John Nohr: the city is “always one election away from chaos.” Most Clark County cities already use council-manager. |
What they said againstTim Hein asked what problem the switch solves, and argued the hybrid already supplies professional management plus electoral accountability. Resident Steve Grundy told council it is “a handing over of power from elected officials to hired officials.” |
City of Camas Links
Form of Government Town Hall InformationThe deficit is not a reason to change form
City budget figures say general-fund spending began to outrun revenue in 2022. Federal relief in 2023 and 2024 held the reserve up. The city’s 2026 forecast shows that reserve falling from about $11.5 million at the end of 2026 to about $1.5 million at the end of 2028 if nothing changes. The yearly gap in that forecast reaches a little under $6 million.Doug Quinn has been city administrator since January 2023. The mayor recommends the budget. The council adopts it. The gap opened the year before the administrator started, and it widened while a professional was already in the job. Proposition 1 does not change those costs or that revenue. It takes the mayor off the ballot, so the public cannot replace the person at the top when the reserve is gone.
Reporting
Camas City Council delays action on government change, Camas Post Record -
Sept 24, 2026
Camas-Washougal Post-Record — Aug. 20, 2026
OPB — Aug. 19, 2026
City of Camas — form of government page
Columbian, 9/8/26 - Steve Hogan to wrap up service as Camas’ mayor in 2027