Junction City’s New Admin Amid Ethics Probe | Portland News

Portland News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 23, 2026 · 1m

Junction City is set to welcome a triple-threat new administrator: Ben West, a Navy Reserve lieutenant, nurse, and former Wilsonville council member who just lost his reelection bid. Despite that setback, the City Council voted unanimously for him — pending a background check — citing his community ties and leadership skills as vital for tackling wastewater upgrades and downtown revitalization. But there’s a twist: West is under ethics investigation for allegedly helping his father land a county job, though his lawyer says hiring authority rests with the county administrator, not…