NEWPORT — A Newport city councilor has resigned his post, leaving a vacancy on the seven-member council.
The council received Ryan Parker’s resignation May 20 and discussed his departure at its Monday meeting.
Parker was elected to his position in 2019 and began his second term in 2023. He is an Oregon State Parks beach ranger and ran unsuccessfully for Lincoln County commissioner in 2022 and 2024 and was a finalist to fill commissioner Kaety Jacobsen’s position after she resigned in February. Commissioners selected Walter Chuck.
On Monday, mayor Jan Kaplan and councilor CM Hall thanked Parker for his years of service. Parker did not give a reason for his resignation.
The last time there was a vacancy was in 2023, when then-mayor Dean Sawyer resigned following hateful Facebook posts. Kaplan, who was a councilor, was appointed mayor and Robert Emond took his place as a councilor.
According to the city charter, the council needs to appoint someone to fill the remainder of Parker’s unexpired term. City councilors serve four-year terms, and the mayor serves a two-year term and Parker’s term was set to expire in January 2027.
Staff will propose a schedule and next steps for the council’s consideration at its June 16 meeting, said city manager Nina Vetter.
The city charter requires applicants to live in Newport for at least a year in order to be eligible for a city council position.
— Shayla Escudero
