Submitted
Source Weekly: What is your age, occupation and political affiliation?
Nathan Boddie: I am a physician and hospitalist at St. Charles Health System, 42 years old. Bend City Council is a non-partisan position, and I have always voted and considered myself mostly as an independent. However, I am currently registered as a democrat.
SW: How long have you lived in Bend?
NB: A little over six years.
SW: Why do you want to be a City Councilor?
NB: My opponent has led the way toward reckless spending and frivolous waste of taxpayer money. His policies are harmful to both residents and local business, and we deserve better. I will rein in the waste and get the City of Bend running more efficiently. By saving money, I can reduce permitting and licensing fees, reduce utility rate hikes, which have risen more than 90 percent in the last few years, and help Bend prosper.
SW: How many City Council meetings have you attended in the past year?
NB: Five to Six. A few more viewed on television.
SW: Have you previously held a public office or participated on a civic committee?
NB: I served on the Sewer Infrastructure Advisory Group, where I helped find ways to save millions more tax dollars than my opponent had proposed for an infrastructure upgrade. Along with other physicians and medical officials from around Oregon, I helped draft the Oregon Crisis Care Guidelines that help hospitals and communities plan how to respond to a pandemic or natural disaster. I previously worked on a river enhancement project similar to what could happen with Mirror Pond and helped draft zoning law.
SW: Names three things you hope you change if elected.
NB: Stop the drastic utility rate hikes driven by my opponent. Decrease the taxes, permitting fees, and extraordinary costs imposed on businesses and residents for construction or operating a business. Make sure we maintain the safety and integrity of our drinking water, which is at risk from my opponent’s failed projects.
SW: What’s your take on Mirror Pond, the UGB and vacation rentals?
NB: Mirror Pond is a jewel in the middle of Bend drawing residents and visitors alike to its beauty and history. However, leaving things as they are is not an option. If we do nothing, the pond will fill in with sediment. Dredging to prevent this would cost taxpayers many millions and wouldn’t fix the problem for long anyway. Most of all the taxpayers of Bend must not assume the financial burden of the dam from its owner Pacific Corp. That would mean a catastrophic tax burden for our town. We would already have more details about the project if my opponent hadn’t tried to hide information from the public. I favor a hybrid approach working with the current owners to live up to their financial responsibility and leaving Mirror Pond at about the same water level but perhaps with even more areas to float and enjoy.
Urban growth expansion has been mishandled by my opponent resulting in the State of Oregon rejecting the proposed expansion. As we revisit the plan, I will make sure we grow intelligently to enhance our economy and prosperity. We will need to avoid hurting property values and causing traffic congestion.
Vacation rentals are not unique to Bend, but are posing challenges to many neighborhoods. While we shouldn’t dictate what someone can do with their property, we need to ensure the livability of our community and a mix of housing options. I favor some form of unrestricted use of a primary residence while limiting the number of secondary units in a neighborhood used for vacation rentals or requiring a period of long-term rental each year.
SW: Why are you the best person for the job?
NB: My leadership experience and ability to fix the problems created by my opponent make me the best choice. I will represent the interests of residents and businesses rather than those of city officials. I will save taxpayer money for a healthy, livable, prosperous Bend.
SW: What’s the best and worst thing about Bend?
NB: Our outstanding quality of life and opportunities to prosper are some of my favorite things about Bend. The risk of hurting those opportunities and degrading our quality of life caused by bad decisions and frivolous spending are clearly the worst. We can do better and we will do better.
SW: What’s your favorite band/musician?
NB: Uncle Tupelo
SW: What Simpson’s character do you most identify with?
NB: Snowball II
Nathan Boddie is running against incumbent City Councilor Mark Capell.
