Mayor Isaac Hodges announced during remarks at the Nov. 10 Brookings City Council meeting that he will step down as mayor because he is moving out of the city limits.

“I will be stepping down as the mayor for Brookings, Oregon,” Hodges said, adding that he expects Jan. 12, 2026 will be his last meeting at the latest and that the council will have time in coming meetings to make any necessary adjustments. He told the council there was no "salacious reason" for the decision and that he is simply moving outside city limits, which under city rules requires officials to live within city boundaries.

Councilors responded with praise. Councilor Mollenberg said Hodges had done an "excellent job as mayor" and Councilor Martin said he had been proud to serve alongside Hodges and appreciated his advocacy for the community. Hodges said he would have more to say in upcoming meetings and that he might step down sooner if the council chose that path.

The announcement is procedural in effect: the mayor signaled an intent to resign at or before the Jan. 12, 2026 meeting; council procedures for filling the vacancy or moving forward were not detailed in the discussion recorded on Nov. 10.