Prineville, Ore. — Prineville Mayor Jason Beebe has resigned from the Prineville City Council and his position as mayor, effective June 15th, bringing an end to more than 15 years of service in city government.
The City of Prineville announced Beebe’s resignation Monday, stating that he stepped down for personal reasons. Beebe had served on the City Council since 2011 and as mayor since 2021. His current term was scheduled to run through Dec. 31st, 2026.
In a statement released by the city, City Manager Steve Forrester thanked Beebe for his years of service and leadership.
“Mayor Beebe has been a committed leader who helped position the City on a strong financial foundation while supporting important investments in our water, street, and wastewater infrastructure,” Forrester said. “His focus on long-term planning has helped ensure Prineville remains a strong and stable community for generations to come.”
Under the Prineville City Charter, City Council President Steve Uffelman will assume the duties of mayor. The City Council is expected to determine a process for filling the vacant council seat in the coming weeks.
Beebe’s resignation comes just over three months after he made headlines across Central Oregon by announcing that he had left the Republican Party and registered as a Libertarian. In an interview with KTVZ in March, Beebe said he remained politically conservative but had become disillusioned with what he described as failures of the traditional two-party system and the Republican Party’s unwillingness to uphold what he considered core values.
A lifelong Prineville resident and military veteran, Beebe has been one of the community’s most recognizable political figures over the past decade. During his tenure in local office, he oversaw a period of significant growth fueled by continued expansion of the city’s data center industry and major infrastructure investments. In January, during his annual State of the City address, Beebe highlighted the city’s financial stability, transportation improvements, water infrastructure projects, housing development initiatives, and preparations for future property tax revenues from data centers.
Beyond local government, Beebe also sought higher office on multiple occasions. He ran for the U.S. Senate in 2022 and challenged incumbent Congressman Cliff Bentz in the Republican primary for Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District in 2024.
The city did not indicate whether Beebe intends to remain involved in public affairs following his resignation.
The City of Prineville stated it “extends its sincere appreciation to Beebe for his years of public service.”
Additional information regarding the appointment process for the vacant council seat is expected to be discussed at a future City Council meeting.
A call placed to Beebe seeking further comment was not successful prior to publication.
Mr. Alderman is an investigative journalist specializing in government transparency, non-profit accountability, consumer protection, and is a subject matter expert on Oregon’s public records and meetings laws. As a former U.S. Army Military Police Officer, he brings a disciplined investigative approach to his reporting that has frequently exposed ethics violations, financial mismanagement, and transparency failures by public officials and agencies.
