Bill Monahan, a former Tigard city manager and retired attorney, is running for Tigard mayor in the Nov. 3 general election. He faces Mayor Hu in a nonpartisan race.
Monahan said he is running because the Tigard City Council "has lost its direction." In his candidate questionnaire, he cited a failed $150 million bond measure as evidence the council lost touch with residents' needs and ability to pay for services.
"Tigard needs new leadership ready to work with a new city manager and the council to rebuild trust, manage the budget responsibly, and deliver essential services," Monahan said in his questionnaire response.
Candidate information
- Residence: Tigard since 1982
- Family: Married to wife Linda; two grown children, Zoe and Marisa
- Education: Bachelor of Arts in sociology, Stonehill College; Master of Arts in Community Planning, University of Rhode Island; Juris Doctor, Lewis & Clark College
- Professional memberships: Life member of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA); retired member of the Oregon State Bar
- Community involvement: Tigard Rotary Club member for more than 20 years, serving twice as president; former president of the Tigard Area Chamber of Commerce; former board member of the Broadway Rose Theatre Company
- Party affiliation: None. Monahan said he formerly was a member of the Democratic Party.
Experience and public service
Monahan started his career as a city planner in Brockton, Massachusetts, a city of about 100,000 residents, according to his campaign website.
He became Tigard's community development director, a position he held from 1982 to 1988. He then served as Tigard's city manager from 1994 to 2005, a period he said included passing a bond measure to build the Tigard Public Library.
Monahan went on to serve as Milwaukie's city manager from 2010 to 2016, overseeing the construction and opening of the Orange Line light rail, which he said helped revitalize that city's downtown. He also served as general counsel for the Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments and worked as a contract city attorney for more than a dozen Oregon communities.
His daughter Zoe works in local government in Oregon as a planner, analyst and in city management. Monahan noted she has not worked for any jurisdiction where he has been employed or contracted.
On the issues
City governance: Monahan entered the race citing what he called "instability, missteps, and costly decisions over the past two years." He said he aims to restore public trust, strengthen council leadership and build a productive working relationship with the city's new city manager. He said having both an inexperienced mayor and a new city manager who lacks city manager experience poses a problem and that "the culture must change."
Fiscal responsibility: Monahan pledged to be a fiscally responsible steward of taxpayer funds. He said he would focus on delivering core services that residents need and can afford while restoring transparency in city government.
Library services: Monahan pledged to restore and retain library services in Tigard.
Economic development: Monahan said he supports promoting sustainable growth while supporting local businesses.
Police facilities: Voters rejected a $150 million facility bond in May 2026. Monahan said he supports pursuing practical, cost-effective solutions for the police department's space needs rather than large bond measures.
Responses are based on public data and answers to a Surround Sound Media questionnaire if they were provided.
