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Creech Back As Umatilla Mayor After Rejoining Council

    Through a series of swearing-ins, resignations, and reappointments, the organizational structure of the Umatilla City Council will look much like it did during 2024 in 2025, but different from just a few weeks ago. During the council’s regular meeting held on December 16, members conducted a series of votes that resulted in Chris Creech being voted as mayor for the coming year and Kaye Adams as vice-mayor.
    Both are now in the positions they were in during the majority of 2024.
    The moves came after Creech was sworn back onto the council at the beginning of Tuesday’s meeting.  Creech, who had been the loan qualifier for his seat during the past election season, was unable to be sworn in November after the election, due to his home not being inside the city limits and him therefore legally unable to assume a seat on the council.  In his absence, Adams was voted in as mayor and John Nichols as vice mayor.
    At the council’s meeting on December 3, Creech’s property was annexed into the city. While the city held an open nomination to fill the seat per city policy, Creech was the only person to formalize interest and was therefore sworn back onto the council Tuesday night.  Immediately afterward, Adams voiced her desire to step down as mayor, and nominated Creech.  He was voted unanimously to the post by a 4-0 vote, as member Bear Crockett was not at the meeting.  After that vote, Nichols resigned as vice mayor and nominated Adams, who accepted and was unanimously voted to the position. 
    After the series of votes, Creech led the rest of the meeting as is standard for whoever is serving as mayor.