AGE: 38
OCCUPATION: Educator and researcher
PARTY: Democrat
YEARS IN BEND: 4
PAST YEAR COUNCIL MEETING ATTENDANCE: 2
PREVIOUSLY PLAYED FOR:
School of Natural Resources and Environment at the University of Florida (co-president)
TOP THREE GOALS:
1) Improve public participation in local issues
2) Improve City Council transparency/increase citizens' trust in local government
3) Protect all of the things we love about Bend
ON MIRROR POND: "I think Mirror Pond should be preserved in some capacity. However, I don't believe maintaining the dam as it currently exists is the best solution economically or environmentally. Based on my education and career in collaborative water management, I am confident we can find a creative solution that preserves our iconic pond, includes fish passage and restoration of the river's ecology, and won't cost the city millions in continuing maintenance."
ON URBAN GROWTH BOUNDARY: "I think we can find a nice compromise between limiting extensive sprawl at the edges of the city (avoiding the pitfalls of other cities in the west), and utilizing existing lands already within the UGB for infill.... As a result of this UGB process I'd like to see a lot of different housing options in Bend, both for sale and for rent.... We need to cater to a wide range of needs, while taking into account the cost of infrastructure as the city expands."
ON VACATION RENTALS: "I think we need stricter enforcement of permits. Permit holders who are in violation repeatedly should probably lose the privilege of having a permit. Also density is an issue. I don't think anyone wants to see entire neighborhoods turned into vacation rentals while long-term residents are pushed out with nowhere affordable to go."
BEST OF BEND: Small town feel, access to services, outdoor recreational opportunities
WORST OF BEND: Lack of diversity, robust transit system and safe bicycle routes
FAVORITE MUSIC: Michael Franti Pandora station
SIMPSONS ALTER EGO: Lisa Simpson
VOTE LISA BECAUSE: "My Ph.D. research focused on water resource management through collaboration and partnership building, so not only do I have the knowledge and skills to collect and analyze information from a wide variety of sources, and think critically about issues, but I also know first hand the value of working together to accomplish goals. Additionally, as an educator, I am an excellent communicator; I am proficient at not only understanding complex information, but at distilling that information and making it easily understandable for a wide variety of audiences. I do not purport to have all the answers, instead I seek to listen to and learn.
