Washington County Chair Steps Back After Middle Finger Incident

Key points

• Harrington announced she is stepping back from the chair role to prioritize mental health support but will remain a commissioner until the end of her term.
• The incident occurred during a Tuesday work session when Harrington raised her middle finger at Commissioner Nafisa Fai, who was blocking her view of another commissioner.
• Commissioners Jason Snider, Jerry Willey, and Pam Treece condemned the behavior as unacceptable and urged immediate resignation, threatening further sanctions if she does not quit.
• Sanctions include removing her as meeting facilitator, requiring virtual participation, revoking security access to non-public facilities, and reducing her compensation to only medical and dental insurance payments.
• Harrington is not running for re-election, and Commissioner Fai, who is running against her, stated that the county deserves a higher standard of leadership.

Background

This incident follows a pattern of reported bullying behavior by Harrington, as noted by the Oregonian, and occurs amidst a broader national trend of local party leaders facing governance challenges and internal conflicts, as seen in recent Brooklyn Democratic Party disputes and Silicon Valley leadership changes.

How outlets are covering it

OPB and KPTV both report the core facts of the gesture and Harrington's decision to step back, but KPTV provides more detail on the specific sequence of events, including Harrington's anger at Fai blocking her view of Commissioner Snider. Both outlets highlight the commissioners' plan to restrict Harrington's duties, but KPTV explicitly notes that state law and the county charter prevent the board from removing her from the commission entirely. OPB emphasizes Harrington's statement about seeking mental health support, while KPTV includes her full apology and her history of speaking openly about mental health struggles.

Why it matters

The incident highlights the challenges of holding elected officials accountable for unprofessional conduct when legal frameworks limit the ability to remove them from office. It also underscores the importance of mental health support for public servants and the potential consequences of failing to seek help in high-pressure roles.

What to watch

The board will discuss further actions at its October 1 meeting. If Harrington does not resign, the commissioners will implement the proposed sanctions, including virtual-only participation and reduced compensation. The outcome of the upcoming election, where Fai is running against Harrington, will also determine the future leadership of the county commission.