Mayor Kidd Resigns

Mayor Richard G. Kidd, known throughout the Portland metro area as an exceptional leader and visionary, announced during the City Council meeting on August 10, 2009, that he will step down from his Mayor position in October. Continuously for the last 24 years, Mayor Kidd has led efforts on several items that have made a major difference in the quality of life in the Forest Grove community. Kidd will not be abandoning the community but instead plans to run for a seat on the Washington County Board of Commissioners with an interest in representing the community at a new level.

Under Richard’s leadership, the City of Forest Grove purchased several key parcels within the City that have been converted into open space, trails or community parks. His vision of completing an emerald necklace around Forest Grove, which would serve as a pedestrian trail surrounding the entire City is over halfway completed.

During Mayor Kidd’s tenure, the City has doubled the size of its library, expanded and renovated its swim center, added a new Council auditorium, renovated Lincoln Park and developed Thatcher Park. He has single-handedly brought Community Development Block Grant funds into Forest Grove to build numerous street and sewer projects as well as upgrade our park facilities such as Bard Park.

Recently, Mayor Kidd helped organize a 5-city regional forum in western Washington County. This forum allows the elected leaders of the area to discuss and identify common legislative concerns, discuss critical issues and to build a stronger alliance to promote their collective interests in the region.

Richard served tirelessly as the Washington County City’s representative to Metro. He also served on numerous regional task forces and committees that influenced decisions relative to street and highway improvements, land use, water quality, economic development, parks, and finance.

Mayor Kidd was nominated and elected to the Oregon Mayors Association Board of Directors with the vision that the interests of all Oregon Cities should be considered, promoted and protected. He spent hundreds of hours in Salem promoting the legislative interest of all Oregon cities to the Legislature. He worked tirelessly on behalf of his community and is a champion for all Oregon cities, large and small, urban and rural. Mayor Kidd was honored this year with one of three statewide mayoral leadership awards at the Annual Oregon Mayors Association Conference.

Richard averaged three or more evening meetings and 20 to 30 hours each week representing the City and the region. Every single day was spent trying to make Forest Grove and Oregon a great place to live, learn, work and play.