Troutdale Mayor Jim Kight has crossed an ethical line that forever will cause his community to doubt his sincerity.

Because of that, his last act as mayor should come in the form of his resignation, putting his town’s best interests ahead of his own desire to wage a prolonged defense.

Kight, who has already filed for re-election, could save Troutdale the embarrassment of an ugly campaign by simply stepping aside. His humble departure would swiftly put Troutdale on a path to recovery from the dysfunctional relationship that has defined Troutdale’s city government during his time as mayor.

On the slim chance that Kight could win in his bid for re-election, we fear what the next four years would bring for this wonderful place. How could Kight function in any meaningful way as mayor with a council that has demonstrated its lack of confidence in his leadership by unanimously calling for his resignation?

He would be marginalized by his council, sent to the timeout chair in the corner while the business of the city goes on without him. Or worse, the tension between Kight and councilors could swell into a distraction that thwarts meaningful progress.

Then, in his role representing Troutdale at regional gatherings, such as meetings of the Metro regional government, how would anyone take him seriously when they know he’s lost credibility with his own council?

Center of controversy

At the heart of this sordid affair is a building that was constructed on Kight’s property within the city limits of Troutdale. Though Kight says the building was fully permitted without undue influence, his fellow council members say the structure should never have been approved, and that Kight should have known better.

They accuse him of manipulating city staff, using his stature as a member of the council to gain the required building permits.

This cannot be a case of Kight misunderstanding or misinterpreting the city codes. He’s been around this block too many times, having served on the City Council from 1994-2004 and again from 2007-09, when he was elected mayor. During those years he helped shape city codes and steer the evolution of the permit process. Of all people, the city’s mayor should know the rules, obey the rules and set the example for all others to follow.

Instead, he built a structure that looks remarkably like a second home, even though a second home is not allowed by floodplain rules. Even the original architectural drawings labeled rooms as “bedroom,” “kitchen” and “great room.” Those labels changed to “workrooms” and “workshop” as time went by.

At other times he told city staff he was constructing a building to function as expanded office space, yet the structure that was ultimately approved was described as a shed for storage of garden tools.

At another point, it was discovered that Kight had excavated a basement, more than doubling the square footage allowed by code or by his permit.

And finally, the shed — or auxiliary building, as Kight refers to it — was built. And when he invited members of The Outlook newsroom to tour the controversial structure, he spent his time explaining how the recessed area in the “office” was not a bedroom closet because it didn’t have doors or a rod for hanging clothes. And he explained how the room that looked remarkably like a kitchen was not a kitchen. In short, this was the most elaborate shed ever built, truly a remarkable structure for the storage of garden tools.

City at a crossroads

Given these recent developments, Kight’s re-election is a long shot at best, meaning he likely has only three months left before Troutdale residents select a new mayor. And he has only five months before his term is up.

There is little that Kight can expect to accomplish during those few months, with the exception of dragging out the negativity that will come from his continued presence.

Kight’s resignation would bring this to a stop today, allowing those who remain on the council to move ahead without distractions.

Kight is neither a demon nor a bad person. At his core, he is one of Troutdale’s loudest and proudest cheerleaders. He just happens to be a person who made a serious mistake, and who is paying for that error by losing the trust of the public and of his fellow councilors.

Because Kight, at his core, is an honorable person, he should do the honorable thing by stepping down.