Chronology of Chaos – Timeline of the Baker City Council’s Demise

BAKER CITY — Months of discord and disarray evolving into a dumpster fire. That’s the story of how the Baker City Council is currently without one sitting member.

With no sitting councilor, the Baker County commission is now tasked with filling four vacancies so the council can return to a quorum and a sense of normalcy may return.

So how did we get here? Below is a recent timeline of how the council unraveled thread by thread, leaving chaos in its wake.

APRIL 2023

Beverly Calder removed as Mayor by the council, Matt Diaz becomes Mayor.

JUNE 2023

Simmering tensions between council members boiled over as Beverly Calder declares herself to still be mayor, despite having been removed by councilors 

JULY 2023

Matt Diaz resigns as Mayor

AUGUST 2023

Beverly Calder chosen as Mayor once again

Dean Guyer resigns from the council, the first domino to drop.

Despite no public hearings, council approves public safety fee

Boston Colton resigns from the council, the next domino

SEPTEMBER 2023

Two more councilors resign, leaving council without a quorum

City council meeting canceled as calls for special election grow

Judge grants temporary restraining order against three remaining councilors

Baker City residents launch recall effort against Mayor Calder

Court hearing over the lawsuit to prevent the three remaining councilors from meeting

Judge sides with plaintiffs, says three remaining councilors cannot fill vacancies without a quorum

The three remaining councilors, including Calder, resign. Task of filling vacancies falls to the county.

So what’s the roadmap to recovery for the council? Baker City should learn soon.

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Elkhorn Media Group