Medford Appointed New Deputy City Manager

The city selected DawnMarie Buckland to fill a newly consolidated leadership role in the local government.

Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in People

Medford Appointed New Deputy City Manager

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Medford has selected native resident DawnMarie Buckland to serve as the city's second Deputy City Manager. The new role combines the previous duties of the Urban Renewal Agency Director and the Economic Development Director.

Why it matters

The City of Medford established this position to streamline administrative oversight by merging two high-level leadership departments. The selection process involved vetting three finalists to ensure the candidate could handle the consolidated responsibilities.

The city recruitment process narrowed the candidate pool to 3 finalists for the consolidated administrative position. This role replaces the previously retired Urban Renewal Agency Director and fills a vacancy in the Economic Development Director office.

The players

DawnMarie Buckland

She is the incoming Deputy City Manager for Medford and previously held leadership roles in Maricopa County, Arizona.

Martha Bennett

She is the incoming City Manager for Medford who will oversee the city administration starting in late 2026.

City of Medford

This local government body serves the residents of Medford, Oregon, and recently restructured its executive leadership roles.

The details

DawnMarie Buckland, a Medford native, previously worked as Executive Director and Chief Deputy Assessor for Maricopa County, Arizona. Incoming City Manager Martha Bennett conducted the final interviews before finalizing the selection for this newly created post.

October 21, 2026: The City Council is scheduled to formally ratify the appointment.
November 30, 2026: Incoming City Manager Martha Bennett begins her new role.
January 4, 2027: DawnMarie Buckland officially begins her tenure as Deputy City Manager.

Market Landscape

The creation of this role follows the International City/County Management Association's trend of administrative consolidation by merging department head responsibilities. By combining the Economic Development and Urban Renewal portfolios, Medford is restructuring its executive leadership to improve organizational efficiency.

The consolidation of these director positions is intended to streamline how the city handles economic development and urban renewal projects. Residents can expect these departments to operate under a single administrative lead, potentially altering the point of contact for city business.

The takeaway

The move reflects a strategic effort by the city to modernize its leadership structure through department consolidation. Residents should monitor future city council agendas to see how this transition impacts upcoming urban and economic initiatives.