Vancouver City Manager Holmes not Portland-bound

You might have heard that Portland is changing its system of governm ent. And that longtime Vancouver City Manager Eric Holmes is leaving his position. Contrary to rumors, the two are not related, Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle said.

Come 2025, Portland’s city councilors will no longer be in charge of the day-to-day operations of the city’s bureaus — police, fire and rescue, transportation, etc. The council will effectively serve as a legislative body, passing laws, budgets and policy, much like the Vancouver City Council.

Portland’s day-to-day operations and bureau management will be headed up by a mayor-appointed and council-confirmed city administrator.

In late February, Holmes announced he will retire from the city of Vancouver in October after 14 years in the role. The timing sparked speculation that McEnerny-Ogle is looking to end.

“We want to stop all of the rumors that Eric Holm es is joining Cirque du Soleil as a new acrobat. He’s not going to Russia. He’s not going to Portland. So we’re trying to squash all of those rumors,” McEnerny-Ogle said at Tuesday’s Interstate Bridge Replacement Program executive steering meeting, which includes government leaders from both Oregon and Washington.

When asked by The Columbian in late February if there is any interest in Portland’s city administrator job, Holmes responded with one word: “No.”