Washington County Chair Kathryn Harrington will give up her duties as board chair but will not resign, she announced Thursday, Sept. 17. The decision came two days after she appeared to raise her middle finger at Commissioner Nafisa Fai during a public meeting.

Harrington said in a written statement that she is stepping back effective immediately to seek mental health treatment. Commissioner Jason Snider will serve as chair pro tem when Vice Chair Jerry Willey is absent.

The move stops short of what a growing number of elected officials have demanded. As we reported Wednesday, the board called a closed executive session Wednesday, Sept. 16, after seven Tigard-area officials called for Harrington's resignation.

Harrington said in her statement that "Tuesday's behavior was a signal that I need to prioritize getting help and support right now," first reported by the Hillsboro News-Times. She said she is taking that seriously.

Harrington said she plans to return as a regular commissioner and serve through the end of her term on Jan. 3, 2027. County spokesperson Philip Bransford told The Oregonian her pay will not change. The chair position pays $145,840 a year.

Commissioner Pam Treece responded Thursday, Sept. 17, by calling for Harrington to resign outright. "I can no longer wait for board action," Treece said in a statement. "As an independently elected official, I am calling for Chair Harrington's immediate resignation."

Treece and Fai face each other in a Nov. 3 runoff to succeed Harrington as county chair. Treece had already returned a $10,000 campaign contribution from Harrington and removed Harrington's endorsement from her campaign website, according to the Beaverton Valley Times.

Harrington chose not to seek reelection.

Fai, the only person of color to have served on the Washington County commission, cited the Tuesday, Sept. 15, gesture in making her case for new leadership. OPB reported that Harrington's behavior toward Fai during public meetings has been well documented.

Thursday's announcement is not the first time Harrington has stepped back from duties. In March 2026, she apologized publicly after a report alleged she yelled at a county employee, leaving the worker in tears. At that time she told fellow board members she has "been living with mental health disease my entire life," The Oregonian reported.

As of Thursday, Sept. 17, the board had not released a public statement on any action it may take. Washington County is Oregon's second-largest county, and the chair leads the body overseeing a $2 billion budget. The board is scheduled to meet Tuesday, Sept. 22.