Umatilla mayor files lawsuit against city, council members

UMATILLA – The mayor of the city of Umatilla, Caden Sipe, has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Pendleton against the city, the city manager, several current city council members and one past city council member.

Listed as defendants in the lawsuit are: City manager David Stockdale, current city council members Corinne Funderburk, Daren Dufloth, Katie McMillan, Ashley Wheeler and Dennis McMillan. As well as former council member Roak Teneyck, whose term expired at the end of 2024.

The lawsuit lists several instances dating back to before January 2023 when Sipe began his term as mayor, alleging that his rights under the first and fourteenth amendment were violated. Things appeared to come to a head at a December 17, 2024 city council meeting when the board addressed a complaint presented to the council by Stockdale, in that meeting the council voted unanimously to approve three resolutions:

• A resolution restricting the mayor’s interaction with Stockdale to the mayoral functions expressly set out in the rules with a third party. Stockdale claimed that Sipe interfered with staff consideration of a general obligation bond to fund the construction of a new police station. Stockdale’s complaint states Sipe criticized Stockdale’s past performance and questioned his job security in an attempt to influence Stockdale to stop investigating the general obligation bond option.
• A resolution issuing a statement of caution to Sipe meeting with individuals or companies that are engaged in discussions with the city regarding contracts as it may have influence or appear to have influence on ongoing negotiations. Stockdale alleged that Sipe met with representatives of Blue Mountain Telecom at a time when the city was considering broadband providers. Sipe says that he spoke to Blue Mountain representatives about IT, robotics, and other issues unrelated to the city outside of a public meeting. And that when issues involving the city arose in conversation, he directed the employees to speak with Stockdale or other city staff regarding the matters in question.
• A resolution prohibiting the mayor from representing the city at any meeting or event unless authorized by the Council or specifically invited by Stockdale. Stockdale alleged that Sipe attended a meeting among taxing districts at Stockdale’s invitation and publicly criticized the manager at said meeting. Sipe claimed he was speaking in a personal capacity, not on behalf of the city.

Sipe’s lawsuit also alleges that an 8-year contract for Stockdale’s position, that was approved by the council in October 2023, is in violation of Oregon law.

Elkhorn Media Group reached out to several of the defendants, who declined to comment on advice of legal counsel.

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