Washington County commissioners have twice appointed replacements for state lawmakers who left office early, part of a pattern a new national study ranks as the second-worst in the country.

The study by the Center for Tech and Civic Life and the Institute for Responsive Government found that 30% of Oregon lawmakers left before their term ended between 2020 and 2025. Only Arizona, at 33%, had a higher rate. The study examined early departures across all 50 state legislatures.

Washington County commissioners were directly involved in filling two of those Oregon vacancies, a process that shapes who represents Bethany-area residents in Salem.

Under Oregon law, when a state lawmaker leaves early, county commissioners in that lawmaker's district appoint a replacement from the same political party. They choose from a list provided by local party leaders.

In 2020, Washington and Multnomah County commissioners appointed Maxine Dexter to the House seat left vacant by the death of Rep. Mitch Greenlick, a Portland Democrat. Dexter won the general election that year and now serves as U.S. Representative for Oregon's 3rd Congressional District.

In May 2025, Clackamas, Washington and Yamhill County commissioners appointed Courtney Neron-Misslin, a Wilsonville Democrat who was then serving in the Oregon House, to fill the Senate seat of Sen. Aaron Woods after Woods died. A third lawmaker, Rep. Hòa Nguyễn of Portland, also died in 2025. Clackamas and Multnomah commissioners appointed labor advocate Lamar Wise to that seat in November 2025.

Commissioner Pam Treece represents District 2, which covers Bethany, Cedar Mill, Cedar Hills and Rock Creek. As we reported Sept. 3, Treece and Commissioner Nafisa Fai are headed to a Nov. 3 runoff for county board chair. No commissioner has commented publicly on the study.

The study also found that replacements were more likely to be women or people of color. Sarah Berlin, director of civic information for the Center for Tech and Civic Life, told the Oregon Capital Chronicle that vacancies still hurt constituents. "Even when they are filled by an interim appointment, that can really disrupt the important legislative work that state legislators do," Berlin said.

Low pay may be one factor. Oregon lawmakers earn $44,000 a year and receive a $178 per diem for each day the legislature is in session. Barbara Smith Warner, a former state representative and now a senior adviser at the Institute for Responsive Government, said she earned $22,000 a year when she left the legislature in January 2023.

The Washington County Board of Commissioners meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 10 a.m. at the Charles D. Cameron Public Services Building, 155 N. First Ave., Hillsboro. The next regular meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 15. Meetings are open to in-person and virtual attendance.