Clackamas County Commissioner Melissa Fireside ended her two-month tenure on Friday with a resignation email after facing a felony theft indictment and having her pay suspended. Fireside pleaded not guilty to charges of forging signatures in a loan scheme targeting an elderly man and a state representative. Board Chair Craig Roberts requested her resignation, thanking the community for their input. The remaining commissioners must now select a replacement, with the process expected to take several months.
Commissioner Ben West applauded Fireside’s decision and Commissioner Martha Schrader expressed sadness, noting Fireside’s innocence until proven guilty. Fireside’s annual salary of $130,213 was suspended after the indictment. She is accused of financial exploitation of an elderly man and a forgery involving state Rep. April Dobson. Dobson, who supported Fireside’s campaign, said she was repaid by Fireside with questionable funds.
Fireside, a construction management consultant, won her first elective office by beating an incumbent tainted by scandal. The news of Fireside’s investigation surfaced after the election, with a police search of her home before the vote. Other commissioners expressed relief at Fireside’s resignation, hoping to move past the distraction and focus on important issues in the region. Noelle Crombie and Zane Sparling are reporters with The Oregonian/OregonLive covering criminal justice and breaking news, respectively.
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