About Charles

Charles was raised working class. When he was very young his mother, an immigrant and survivor of domestic violence, worked nights as a nurse to provide for Charles and his siblings, relying on her mother to look after the kids while she worked. After his mother remarried, things got better for a while. When Charles was in high school, his family relocated for a job that never materialized. He and his family struggled to make ends meet. Charles worked construction with his step-father and attended an evening high school program.

As a young father, Charles was granted sole custody of his children and worked hard to support them. Without a car, he took his toddlers with a bike and trailer to run errands and buy groceries. He took any job that allowed him to provide for his family: account manager for Rent-A-Center, construction worker, tow truck driver, storage manager, and accounts receivable manager for a paving company.

Charles met his wife, Holly and together they worked to build a stable life for their blended family. In 2003 their lives were turned upside down when Holly’s father was murdered. They had to relocate to move into the home to afford the mortgage while his estate went through probate. In 2005, they welcomed their youngest child, Charlie and started planning to relocate from Southern California. 

They thought that Oregon would be the right fit for their family, but weren’t able to afford to travel to check it out. In 2006 they sold the home, packed everything into storage, and took the family on a road trip, visiting friends, family and National parks and historic attractions in California, Arizona, and Nevada, arriving in Oregon in December of 2006. Unsure of where specifically they wanted to be, they looked at homes, in Eugene, Salem and Sweet Home, but nothing seemed like the right fit. Charles found a listing for a manufactured home in Corvallis and called to see it. The real estate agent, suggested they go to Corvallis and check it out. From the first drive through downtown and visit to the Farmer’s market, Corvallis felt like home. 

By moving to Corvallis Charles and Holly were able to provide a much better quality of life for their children. Even though Charles was the sole earner for several years while Charlie was small, the family enjoyed weekly outings to the Farmer’s Market and library, regular visits to the Osborne Aquatic Center, and many local parks and annual events. 

Once settled in Corvallis, Charles had trouble finding work as the recession hit. He was hired to work in Dallas as an Assistant manager for Goodwill, later transferring to the Corvallis location. Dissatisfied with the disparity between Goodwill’s image and reality, Charles decided to find other work. He started work as a circulation driver for the Corvallis Gazette Times; in a few short years he went from an entry level position, to district manager for the Gazette Times and the Democrat Herald. As newspapers started failing and cuts and low morale made work unbearable, Charles again decided to seek other employment. He followed Holly into property management and ended up taking a part-time, temporary maintenance job for an affordable housing management company. Within a year or so he was working fulltime and helping with management and compliance as well as maintenance. Coworkers and tenants respected him so much that he was offered the job of manager/maintenance for the Julian hotel apartments. After managing the property for a few years, OHCS (Oregon Housing and Community Services) conducted a routine audit. The analyst was so impressed with the property’s condition and its files that she suggested he apply to OHCS. In 2019 Charles was hired by OHCS as the sole analyst conducting both physical and file inspections. 

While working in affordable housing, Charles and Holly became involved in Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign. Through local activism and organizing, Charles and Holly felt connected to the Corvallis community in a way that they had never experienced before. Inspired by Bernie’s message they got involved in the Democratic Party and Charles ran for Corvallis City Council in 2016.

Charles did not win that election but ran again for the same seat in 2018 and won by a large margin. He served on the Corvallis City Council for nearly four years. There he was an advocate for affordable housing, climate action, and a downtown that supports small businesses. 

In 2021 Charles was diagnosed with cancer and underwent chemo treatment while working full time and maintaining his position on the city council.

In 2022, at the encouragement of current and former city councilors, community activists, and his family, Charles ran for Corvallis mayor and was elected in Oregon’s first Ranked Choice Voting Mayoral election. He was sworn into office January of 2023 and has served in that role ever since. 

Since taking office, Mayor Maughan has focused on strengthening the city’s foundation through sustainable infrastructure development and expanded housing opportunities. His first term has been defined by a hands-on approach to municipal governance, from navigating complex charter improvements to celebrating the local milestones that make Corvallis unique.

You can regularly find Mayor Maughan at community events and the weekly farmer’s market. As a resident who deeply values the Willamette Valley’s natural beauty and vibrant culture, Mayor Maughan’s vision remains rooted in preserving our city’s character while thoughtfully preparing for the future. 

“It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as your Mayor. Together, we have made significant strides in addressing our city’s most pressing challenges, particularly in housing and local infrastructure. But there is more work to be done. I am running for re-election to ensure we continue this momentum and build a Corvallis that is inclusive, resilient, and thriving for every resident.” – Charles Maughan