Yo, it’s cool that McElroy’s sober now and found healthier ways to deal with stuff, but that doesn’t erase he straight up kept things from voters. Plus, he chose to vibe with a dude who’s said some seriously messed up stuff in public. Not a good look.
17 year old JM, high school student
Subject: Public Comment Regarding Council Conduct and Accountability
Dear Mayor Drinkwine, Council Members, and City Manager Wagner,
I am writing to share my serious concerns about corruption of members of this council, and in particular, the appointment of & moral alignment with Mr. Blevens despite widespread public objection.
Please read the following message carefully:
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Thank you, Mr. McElroy, for sharing your story. We are all just humans doing the best we can with the tools we have. I’ve loved and lost addicts, so I mean it when I say—I’m glad you’re still here and you have found better tools. Sharing your vulnerability is courageous, and I commend your rehabilitation; nothing I say is meant to diminish the courage of your recovery.
You weren’t convicted for drug use. You were convicted of multiple counts of felony identity theft and forgery. You had a whole page in the voter pamphlet. Why didn’t you own your story then? You chose to hide the truth. That’s not accountability—it’s deception.
My stepfather was also a felon. He robbed a restaurant at knifepoint while coming down off drugs, then kidnapped a family. He cleaned up and dedicated his life to helping guide others through sobriety and redemption. I deeply understand the cost of drug use and the blessing of grace. You didn’t give voters the chance to show you grace. You concealed your past, and that concealment raises current questions about your character.
You voted against a committee meant to help people like you—people in recovery. You still haven’t taken responsibility for your actions by resigning. That’s the real concern—not your past, but your present behavior.
Worse still, Mr. McElroy, Mr. Metcalf, Mr. Dolezal, and Mayor Drinkwine aligned yourselves with Mr. Blevens. Mr. Blevens mocked Native children who were abused and murdered, belittled trans children as well as people with disabilities, and posted vile, misogynistic things. Anyone can see it for themselves at EstacadaInformed.com. Mr. Blevens DOES NOT represent my values or the values of Estacada. He is not fit to represent us, and men of questionable character appointed him over the voters’ choice.
Mr. Metcalf also hid that he’s currently on probation. He kept voters in the dark not giving us critical information about someone who we chose to represent us. This isn’t isolated—it’s a pattern of behavior with those appointed and elected.
Mr. Dolezal has had bankruptcy and debt yet served on the budget committee. I pleaded with Estacada Informed not to make the bankruptcies public because these happen for various private reasons. Nonetheless, serving on the budget committee seems like a poor choice and further brings council character into question. This council is corrupt with concealment and poor choices.
You all have failed to listen and ultimately betrayed your position as our representatives. Redemption starts with accountability, and in this case, the only accountable action is resignation. Adopting Mr. Blevens’ values and mischaracterizing them as the values of Estacada families is a betrayal of public trust. The only question remains: is your ego still more important to you than your honor? Until those of you who aligned with these despicable values by appointing Mr. Blevens resign, your character is questionable and your lack of integrity is glaringly noticeable.
Tabitha Basye
Sent 2/36/2025 for public record.
Michael W. McElroy deliberately withheld important information about his past, deceiving the very voters who entrusted him with public office. That kind of omission matters—transparency is the cornerstone of public service. Even more concerning, he used his position to appoint Matthew Blevens, a man who has made openly racist, misogynistic, and transphobic statements. That’s not just a lapse in judgment—it’s a reflection of values that are out of step with the inclusive and respectful community many of us are working to build. While I sincerely commend McElroy for achieving sobriety and finding healthier ways to cope, personal growth does not erase the consequences of decisions made while in power.
Respectfully,
J. M.
Community Advocate & Education Professional
I voted for Michael McElroy because I believed he stood for integrity, accountability, and conservative values. But finding out that he withheld serious information about his past from me, his constituent, feels like a betrayal. Honesty matters, especially from someone asking for our trust.
Look at what’s going on with Melissa Fireside, who is now facing charges of theft and forgery. She resigned and is being held accountable. Meanwhile, McElroy, whose actions were more extensive and kept from me, his constituent, is still in office.
I praise Jesus that he has found sobriety, truly. But sobriety does not excuse identity theft or the fact that he left out critical information from his voter pamphlet. Recovery is important, but it does not erase the responsibility he has to be honest with the people who put their faith in him to lead with integrity.
A concerned voter who expected better
35 year old Christian, wife and mother in Estacada
I voted for McElroy thinking he shared my values. I thought he was someone we could count on to be honest and upfront. But learning that he left out serious parts of his past when running for office like felonies makes me feel misled.
It’s not about being perfect. Everyone has a past. But hiding it from voters? That crosses a line. We’re the ones who hired him, and we deserved the truth before we made that decision.
I respect that he’s gotten sober—really, I do. That’s a big deal my little brother is addicted to meth and haven’t heard from him in months. It’s a tough thing. But getting clean doesn’t cancel out what he did or make it okay to keep sitting in a seat he earned under false pretenses. He needs to own up to it and step down.
A working class voter
27 year old bartender, Estacada, Oregon 97023
This is outrageous. Michael McElroy lied by omission, and no one should be okay with that. He did not just “forget” to mention identity theft. He intentionally left it out of the voter pamphlet because he knew it would cost him the election. That is not a mistake. That is calculated deception.
People keep saying today, “Well, he is sober now.” Fine. Good for him. But sobriety does not wipe the slate clean when you got into office by hiding the truth. This is not about his recovery. This is about basic honesty and whether we can trust the people we elect.
And then he turned around and voted to take away the DEIC from people who have struggled like he has. That is not leadership. That is just cruel.
If McElroy had even a shred of respect for this community, he would take responsibility and resign. We are tired of being lied to. Estacada deserves better.
Outraged
Registered Democrat, Estacada
Estacada Informed 