BROWNSVILLE MAYOR RESIGNS

BROWNSVILLE -- Kathleen Swayze, who was arrested along with her husband,
Dee, Thursday evening in a marijuana bust at their home and business in
Brownsville, has resigned as the city's mayor.

Swayze, who has been praised for her energy and commitment to the
community, was charged with manufacture and distribution of a controlled
substance and three counts of endangering the welfare of a minor when Linn
County deputies found 31 marijuana plants in the couple's ceramic studio
and 12 pounds of dried marijuana in their home. The child endangerment
charges stem from the employment of several teenagers at the business.

The couple were released from the Linn County Jail after posting $9,950.

In a one-paragraph resignation dated Friday, Swayze said:

"Brownsville City Council,

I wish to thank the administrator, the office staff, public works, and my
council for their wonderful, collaborative, and inspiring work. I feel that
much has been achieved with all your help in the last two years. I have
worked very hard for this dear town that I love. I will always be grateful
for the time I have been able to spend working for this great community.
With that I tender my resignation as mayor."

It was signed, "Very sincerely, Kathleen Swayze."

The former mayor was unavailable for comment over the weekend and this morning.

Brownsville City Administrator David Clyne praised Swayze for her work over
the past two years.

"Without commenting on the personal choice she made, Kathleen was an
outstanding mayor. She did a great job for us," Clyne said. "The best that
I have ever worked with."

The city administrator said that Swayze has put a lot of effort into
promoting a $7.5 million bond measure that will appear on the Nov. 2
ballot, to build a new wastewater treatment.

She was also the driving force behind a ballot measure in 2002 to form a
recreation district that followed the boundaries of the Central Linn School
District. Voters rejected the measure.

Clyne also credited the former mayor with helping the community to heal
after a bitter conflict between feuding factions of the city council saw
longtime city administrator Diane Rinks fired and City Councilman Skip
Smith recalled.

"She was active in drawing people in from all sides and showing respect for
their opinions," Clyne said. "She showed a tremendous amount of energy."

Clyne said that Council President Rob Wingren will take over the duties of
the mayor until the position is filled permanently. Swayze had two years
remaining on her term in office.

The former mayor and her husband are scheduled to appear in Linn County
Circuit Court on Oct.27.