Katie Dunwell Resigns from City Council

September 22, 2025 — Wilsonville City Councilor Katie Dunwell has informed City Manager Bryan Cosgrove that she is resigning from the Council, effective immediately.

“Serving as representative of Wilsonville citizens has been a rewarding experience,” Dunwell said, citing the unexpected passing of her husband Jim in 2024 as a catalyst for her decision. “I am proud of the accomplishments during my three years on Council.  More than anything, I had the privilege to serve on Council as we designed and implemented a safe overnight camping area for unhoused individuals and families in need.” 

•   Click here for the complete text of Dunwell’s resignation letter.

Dunwell was elected in 2022, and sworn in on Jan. 5, 2023, to become one-fifth of the first all-woman Council in the City’s history. An enrolled tribal member of the Oneida Nation, Dunwell has been a resident of the Pacific Northwest for nearly 25 years.  

As a member of Wilsonville’s City Council, Dunwell chaired the Housing Our Future Task Force, and has served as the Council’s representative on the French Prairie Forum Local Governments Working Group, the Willamette Falls & Landing Heritage Area Coalition, the Willamette Intake Facilities Commission, the Washington County Coordinating Committee and the Positive Aurora Airport Management Group.

“I want to sincerely thank Councilor Dunwell for her service to Wilsonville,” Mayor Shawn O’Neil said. “Serving on the City Council takes time, sacrifice, and a deep commitment to community. Councilor Dunwell brought energy, passion, intellect, and a lion’s spirit to her work — always standing firmly for what she believed was right.

“Our City is built by people who step forward to serve, often at personal cost, and Councilor Dunwell embodied that spirit of service. On behalf of the City Council, I extend my appreciation for her contributions and wish her nothing but the best in her next chapter," O'Neil said.

The City Council is now developing a process to identify and review candidates for the vacant seat. Further details, including the anticipated timeline for the appointment, will be communicated at or before the Oct. 6 meeting of City Council.

Dunwell’s resignation is the first by a sitting Council member since Councilor Susie Stevens resigned effective June 30, 2019. Her successor, Dr. Joann Linville, was sworn in on Sept. 16, 2019.

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