Oregon City elects Marl, 26, as first Asian American mayor

Adam Marl, 26, won the Oregon City mayor's race with 71% of the vote in early returns, making him the city's first Asian American mayor.

Marl defeated former City Commissioner Damon Mabee, who received 16%, and political newcomer Rodney LaBarr, who received 13%, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. The vote totals were based on early returns on Nov. 3 and had not been certified.

He is also the second person of color elected to the office in what OregonLive described as Oregon's oldest city. Marl takes office in January.

Recall roots

Marl's path to the mayor's office traces back to 2020. That year, he served as campaign manager for the successful recall of then-Mayor Dan Holladay. Holladay had come under fire for suggesting the city would defy pandemic restrictions and for downplaying police brutality against Black people during racial justice protests, according to OregonLive.

The following year, Marl was appointed to the Oregon City Commission at age 20, making him the youngest person ever to serve on the body, according to OregonLive. He won election to the seat in 2022 and has served five years on the commission.

Marl chairs the city's Budget Committee and Urban Renewal Commission. He works on the government relations team at the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD), focusing on housing and economic development policy, according to an OregonLive profile published in September. The mayor and commission positions are unpaid volunteer roles.

He succeeds Mayor Denyse McGriff, who is term-limited and endorsed Marl's campaign. In 2019, McGriff became the first person of color appointed to the Oregon City Commission, according to OregonLive. She became mayor in 2022.

Background

Marl was adopted from South Korea as an infant and grew up in Oregon City. He graduated from Oregon City High School in 2018 and from Willamette University in 2021, where he studied politics and communications.

On election night Nov. 3, Marl told OregonLive, "I'm grateful, and I'm exhausted, and I'm ready for the work that lies ahead."

He pointed to the redevelopment of the city's riverwalk and the planned development of the former papermill as Tumwata Village as projects on the horizon, according to OregonLive.

New commission members

Voters also chose two new Oregon City commissioners. Paul Espe led in early returns with 31% of the vote, followed by Gordon J. Lawrence with 29%. Jim Nicita received 21% and Betty Mumm received 18%.

Espe, 66, is a planner for the city of Lake Oswego and chairs the Oregon City Planning Commission. He has lived in Oregon City for more than 30 years and previously served on the Planning Commission from 2011 to 2018.