Mayor Shane Bemis
Mayor
Term of Office: January 2007 – December 2010
Shane T. Bemis was sworn in to office as the City of Gresham’s 26th Mayor on January 2, 2007. At the age of 34, Bemis became the youngest Mayor to serve the City of Gresham.
Elected to the Gresham City Council in 2002, Bemis brought a passion for economic development, business, and community safety to City Hall. He was appointed Council President by his colleagues for three years prior to his successful bid for Mayor. Under his leadership the City Council adopted their first ever annual Council Work Plan in 2007, which put the operations of the City into a business-like planning document, charting out the goals and initiatives of the Council on a quarterly basis.
Bemis was the architect of the City’s push in 2007 to clean up the MAX line by assigning uniformed officers to patrol the trains, a program credited with increased safety on light rail in Gresham. Bemis’ advocacy also sparked the creation of a dedicated TriMet law enforcement precinct housed in the Gresham Police Department.
A stalwart supporter of sustainable practices, Bemis signed the US Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement shortly after he took office. In his first year as Mayor, the City of Gresham enacted its first backyard burn-ban policy, introduced co-mingled residential recycling roll carts, used green deconstruction techniques to dismantle and recycle the former Rockwood Fred Meyer building, and partnered with Metro to expand open space on Darby Ridge and Hogan Butte.
Currently a restaurant owner in Gresham’s historic downtown, Bemis started his first business venture in 1999 at the age of 27. In 2007, the Portland Business Journal honored Bemis as one of the region’s “Forty Under 40 Award” recipients. The “Forty Under 40 Award” honors 40 people in the region under the age of 40 who have shown great accomplishments in their professional lives and made outstanding contributions to their communities. In 2008 Bemis was honored with a Certificate of Recognition by the Oregon Mayors Association for his leadership as Mayor of Gresham.
As an alumnus of the Mayors’ Institute on City Design and a downtown business owner, Bemis has brought his unique perspective on urban form and design to the City of Gresham. He believes that careful planning and design can help stimulate a vibrant economy as well as lasting livability.
Bemis furthers his community interests through board service. Mayor Bemis was elected to the Board of Directors for the League of Oregon Cities at the League’s annual conference in October 2009. In this position he will join a select group of local elected officials from across the State to ensure that the voice of cities is loudly heard by policy-makers.
As an important element of his efforts to attract new businesses and quality jobs to the area, Bemis serves on key economic development boards. He sits on the Regional Partners Council, a body that is composed of elected officials and key economic leaders across the region, and committed to enhancing economic development in the area. In addition, he serves on the board for the East Metro Economic Alliance, a team of local economic interests committed to a healthy and vibrant business climate in East County.
Mayor Bemis also serves on the board for the Regional Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force, which offers a coordinated effort to fight crime and drug use. In addition, Bemis is among a small group of emerging policy leaders across the state who were invited to participate in the Oregon Business Alliance’s Centered Leadership Program. The program, by bringing together leaders from all parts of Oregon and all levels of government, helps seek creative bi-partisan solutions to pressing issues.
Furthering his interest in successful economic development and job growth in Gresham, Bemis is active in the Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce and the Gresham Downtown Development Association. As Mayor, Bemis is also the Chairman of the City’s redevelopment commission, which guides the Rockwood urban renewal district.
In 2005 Bemis Chaired Gresham’s Centennial Celebration Committee, which planned and hosted events to celebrate Gresham’s 100th birthday. The same year he was honored as Gresham’s “Citizen of the Year” for his service to the community.