Mayor Lenahan grew up in a small suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio surrounded by a large family. She began volunteering at a young age through her active involvement with the Girl Scouts and her church.

She has served on the City Council from 2008-2016. She was Council President from 2011-2016. She serves on the Budget Committee, the Urban Renewal Agency, the North Plains Events Association and the Policy Advisory Board for the Washington County Office for Community Development. She is a member of the North Plains Chamber of Commerce, the Washington County Coordinating Committee, the Metropolitan Mayors Consortium and the Oregon’s Mayors Association.

Mayor Lenahan has been a business owner and is a lifelong learner. She studied psychology and education at Thomas More College and the University of Cincinnati. She received her Associates Degree from Portland Community College.

She received the Volunteer of the Year Award in 2010 and the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.

Economic Development growth and Emergency Management Preparedness are two very important issues for Mayor Lenahan. She wants to create a stronger sense of community through community volunteerism, to find a balance between small town values and future growth and to be prepared for the unexpected.

Mayor Lenahan is married, has four children, a granddaughter, three dogs and a cat.  She enjoys music, traveling, gardening and distance walking. Her retirement goal is to obtain her Master Gardening credentials.

Mayor Lenahan was re-elected to a second term  in November, 2020 and her current term expires December 31, 2024. Her email is teri.lenahan@northplains.org.

Read a Q&A below with Mayor Lenahan to learn more about why she serves on Council, what City accomplishment she is proud of, what she's most passionate about in the community, and more.
Meet Your Council: Mayor Teri Lenahan
Mayor Teri Lenahan has served on the City Council since 2008. In addition to serving as Mayor since 2016, she was Council President from 2011-2016, and serves on the Budget Committee, the Urban Renewal Agency, and the North Plains Events Association. Mayor Lenahan has been a business owner and is a lifelong learner.  Read her full bio here.

Q. Why do you serve on the City Council?  

A. Twelve years ago, my neighbors saw something in me that said I would be a good fit for local government and so they encouraged me to run for City Council. I enjoy helping others and value giving back to my community. So, after some thoughtful discussion with my husband, I ran for City Council and won. I never dreamed of being a mayor but here I am. I think it’s important to bring people together to talk about what is happening in our community and to discuss ways to improve it for future generations.

Q. What city accomplishment are you most proud of during your time on City Council?  

A. A lot has happened over the course of 12 years, but the first thing that comes to mind is the evolution of teamwork within the City. I believe in teamwork and making sure that all voices are present at the table. When I ran for mayor four years ago, I realized that we needed to be a part of the regional conversation because serious growth had just hit North Plains square in the face. Rural communities like North Plains were being overlooked - not on purpose - but because we weren’t dialed in to what was happening elsewhere. What happens in North Plains is within our control, so I began to network with other local leaders to get feedback on what was working for them so that I could help facilitate the conversation for what we wanted and needed for our community. I wanted to make sure that we had strategic plans in place for future development, communication, and emergency preparedness. All city committees, staff, consultants and the community have worked very hard to ensure our strategic plans are a reflection of our needs. I am very proud of that work and for bringing more regional awareness to North Plains.

Q. What opportunity or challenge in the community are you most passionate about and why?

A. There is room to grow our industrial and commercial base through an Urban Growth Boundary expansion. North Plains is known as a bedroom community and while attractive, it comes with limitations. North Plains has the opportunity to grow in a way that fits the needs of the community. There is a process by which we can foster discussions and constructively plan for our future. I want people to understand, we are not in the Metro boundary and that’s a good thing because WE get to plan our future growth. We want to maintain our small-town feel and charm because it is who we are as a community. I will not compromise that value and I will continue to work with partners who share that same sentiment for North Plains.

Q. What would you say to a resident who asks you, "What is the best way to get involved in North Plains?"

A. I think the question should be ‘How do you want to get involved in your community?’ Social media provides all of us with the opportunity to get involved in the conversation, but what I’d like to see are more people committing to showing up for the conversation at our local meetings. There are many talented people who live in North Plains. I want to find a way to tap into that talent and empower them to give back to North Plains. A phrase I have said over and over to my kids, “Say it. Do it. Mean it. Everyone has an opinion, but if you want to make a difference, you better show up or shut up”

Q. Can you share a fun fact about you?

A. Believe it or not, I am an Introvert and my gift of overthinking is my Super Power. You won’t find me Instagramming or Facebooking at all hours of the day because I enjoy time in my garden, walking, listening to music, and having conversations with close friends and family. Over the years, I have learned the importance of thinking through a decision before offering a knee-jerk reaction to a tweet.