Mayor Michael Milch - Michael Milch spent 15 years as a religious educator and church administrator and 18 years as consulting pension actuary before retiring in 2008 to devote time to his twin grandchildren (now teenagers). Michael and his wife, Kat, began volunteering in their grandchildren’s Gladstone soccer and school activities in 2010, discovering an inviting city with a rich history and a tradition of community participation.
When Kat retired from nursing in 2015, they found their “forever home” in Gladstone, and Michael became more involved and invested in the civic life of their community. He has served on the Downtown Revitalization Committee, City Council, and Library Advisory Board, and as Chair of the Planning Commission, Budget Committee, and the Gladstone School District Budget Committee. Michael served four years on the Board of Directors of The Clackamas Bookshelf, a local nonprofit that provides free books to low income children in Clackamas County.
Elected as Mayor in 2022, Michael is committed to addressing the most important needs of our community—livability and economic prosperity—enabling all people to have access to opportunities they can use in the pursuit of improvements to their quality of life.
Councilor Vanessa Huckaby (she/her) - Councilor Huckaby (Council President) and her children have lived in Gladstone for 17 years. Vanessa grew up in a small town in Oregon just a few miles down the road and understands the magic that comes from a childhood in a safe, small-town community. As a mom, she wants to ensure that her children and grandchildren have the same opportunity to grow up and thrive in a vibrant, inclusive community.
Vanessa has spent her career in administrative services, working with high-level leaders all working towards their own goals and navigates them to achieve the overarching goal of the organization. She intends to use her experience and diplomacy to bring together the strong leaders on Council to work on common goals that benefit our city.
Councilor Huckaby has her sights on: Reconnecting the community to city leadership, Facilitating greater community involvement, Improving our city’s livability, Parks and small businesses, Ensuring Gladstone is a safe, welcoming, and inclusive community for ALL.
When Vanessa isn’t spending time with her family and granddaughter, Jaelyn, staying active at the gym or hiking, you will find her volunteering at the Gladstone Clothes Closet.
Councilor Maria Mitchell - Councilor Mitchell has lived in Gladstone for 11 years, attended local schools, volunteered here, worked here, and got married here. Since 2016, she has served as Co-Director of the Gladstone Public Library Foundation. She advocates for downtown development that balances growth with livability and affordability for all residents. With a background in serving diverse populations, Mitchell promotes cooperation, respect, and inclusivity on the City Council. She strives to ensure every resident’s voice is heard and offers a fresh perspective to help Gladstone thrive as a united, vibrant community.
Councilor Gabrielle Blaug - Councilor Blaug has had an active role in the Gladstone Community by serving as a member on Gladstone’s Budget, Audit, Traffic, and Safety Committees before being appointed to fill the vacant position on the Gladstone City Council. Her priorities include: making Gladstone a welcoming community for all regardless of age, gender, race, religion or abilities, Ensuring Gladstone is run with fiscal responsibility while continuing to support the Police, Fire, Library and Community spaces, support our Parks, and help revitalize our Downtown area to make it a place where we can shop, eat, and enjoy year round.
Councilor Andrew Labonte - Councilor Labonte and his family has lived in Gladstone for 8 years. He has 22 years working in traffic safety education. He has spent many years on Gladstone’s Traffic Safety Advisory Board, Park and Recreation Advisory Board, Planning Commission as well as Clackamas County’s Traffic Safety Advisory Board before being elected to serve on the Gladstone City Council. Councilor Labonte believes a vibrant city must be a safe city for all citizens and is dedicated to representing Gladstone with integrity and impartiality. He is committed to ushering Gladstone into the future while preserving what makes our town special.
Councilor Leaf Farley- Councilor Leaf Farley is a U.S. Navy combat veteran. As a Corpsman, he deployed with the U.S Marine Corps in Afghanistan in 2012. His military service instilled in him a deep commitment to service and a passion for supporting others. After leaving the military, Leaf pursued higher education at Portland State University, earning a Bachelor's degree in History followed by a Master's degree in Education.
In 2023, Leaf took on the role of Social Studies teacher at Centennial High School, where he specializes in U.S. Government and U.S. History. With his diverse teaching experience, he is dedicated to helping students understand complex issues in a way that resonates with their lives and experiences.
Leaf’s passion for service extends far beyond the classroom. Throughout his life, he has been driven by the desire to protect and raise up those in his community. His military background, coupled with his educational work, allows him to approach problems with a unique perspective and solve them in ways that are accessible and clear to everyone.
Leaf is committed to bringing these same values of service, leadership, and community empowerment to local governance. He seeks to provide solutions that are both practical and inclusive, always with the goal of improving the lives of those in his community.
Councilor Mindy Garlington - Has lived in Gladstone for over 34 years and is a lifelong Oregonian. She has been involved in and around our schools, city, kids sports and committee appointments since moving to Gladstone in 1991.
As a city councilor she is liaison to Clackamas Fire District 1.
She also serves Gladstone by involvement with other cities across the state through the League of Oregon Cities, this includes serving as the 2025 & 2026 President of the LOC Women’s Caucus.
Volunteer time includes Friends of Gladstone Nature Park, Christ the King Church, The Elks Club, MAKING STRIDES Against Breast Cancer & Pink Sista’s; who's mission is to support women after a breast cancer diagnosis. Free time is spent with her husband, 2 children & partners, 5 grandsons and other family & friends. Being in the garden, golfing and church is where she finds peace.
‘Gladstone's most valuable assets are our people and our parks. If we care for them, everything that is good will follow’.