August 11, 2026 3:00 p.m. 

Roseburg Mayor Larry Rich has notified city staff and the Roseburg City Council that he will not seek re-election after serving 28 years as mayor.

A city release said Rich has served as mayor since 1998 and said he believes the conclusion of his current term is the right time to step aside. He will be 71 years old when his term ends.

In a letter to city staff and councilors Rich said, “I am at a point in my life where I want to play more and work less”. Rich said, “There are still places in this world that I would like to see and visit before I can’t travel anymore”.

Rich said his nearly three decades as mayor passed quickly and gave him opportunities to meet many people throughout the community.

Rich said, “Twenty-eight years may sound like a long time to volunteer to do the job, but the time went by extremely fast. I really enjoyed being mayor. I had a lot of fun doing it.”

Rich thanked Roseburg residents for entrusting him with the position and encouraged city staff and councilors to remain focused on serving the community as Roseburg prepares for new leadership.

Rich said, “Roseburg is truly blessed to have such a wonderful people living here. I will forever be grateful to the citizens of Roseburg for giving me the opportunity to serve”.

The release said Rich will continue serving as mayor through the remainder of his current term, which concludes at the end of 2026.

Rich concluded, “As Roseburg begins with new leadership and direction, please continue to stay focused on doing your part to keep Roseburg a great place to live and call home”. Rich said, “I firmly believe the Roseburg is the best small town in Oregon”.

Rich is one of the longest continuously serving mayors in modern Oregon history.