The city of Damascus voted by more than a two-to-one margin to disincorporate in Tuesday's primary election.
It’s the second time the small Clackamas County city has voted to dissolve.
City of Damascus sign
Michael Clapp / OPB
The first time, the turnout fell short. Last year, state legislators lowered the bar for Damascus, and Tuesday, voters cleared it. But this time, the vote faces a court challenge over the measure's constitutionality.
Leader of the disincorporation effort, Chris Hawes, predicts Damascus will soon be no more.
"I think realistically, it's a dead city walking at this point," Hawes said. “Everything that’s happened in Damascus and disincorporation, you never say never. But I feel pretty confident that ultimately the judge will see that the people of Damascus have voted overwhelmingly, that they don’t want to have a city any more.”
Clackamas County Judge Katherine Weber said she could rule on the constitutional challenge Wednesday.
Damascus has struggled as a city since it incorporated in 2004. There were conflicts between the city council and staff, and the city was never able to enact a state-required growth plan.