AGE: 54
OCCUPATION: Owns computer service company CMIT Solutions
PARTY: Democrat
YEARS IN BEND: Born and raised. Lived elsewhere for work from 1988-2002.
2014 COUNCIL MEETING ATTENDANCE: 22
PREVIOUSLY PLAYED FOR: City Council (2006-present), Bend Metropolitan, Planning Organization (Chair), Bend Urban Renewal Agency (Chair), Deschutes Water Alliance Board (Member), Deschutes River Conservancy Board (Member)
TOP THREE GOALS:
1) Infrastructure
2) Transit
3) River Flow
ON MIRROR POND: "I believe there is a compromise worthy of exploring that will allow the pond to remain, the dam removed, and the river allowed to function more like a natural system. I believe this can be done without raising taxes but through public/private partnerships."
ON URBAN GROWTH BOUNDARY: "Right now, we have very little land available for a business that wants to move to Bend. That scarcity inflates prices for commercial and industrial land, making it more difficult for local businesses to expand and new businesses to move here. I would hope that greater than 80 percent of the expected population growth in the current UGB process will be accommodated in our current boundary. We have quite a bit of residential land (particularly in the southeast) that is inside our City limits but not developed due to lack of supporting infrastructure. We are working on the infrastructure right now."
ON VACATION RENTALS: "Some folks have expressed concern about ruining the neighborhood feel and friendliness and others have supported vacation rentals for business reasons or because they are generally kept up better than long-term rentals. I am looking forward to hearing what people have to say at the meeting and trying to come up with an answer that works for most viewpoints."
BEST OF BEND: The friendliness
WORST OF BEND: Lack of participation in City government
FAVORITE MUSIC: Dan Hick and His Hot Licks at the Tower Theatre in May
SIMPSON'S ALTER EGO: Lisa Simpson
VOTE MARK BECAUSE: "Bend is my home. I care about it and I want to make sure it remains the place we all love. I have been a voice on Council in favor of long-term thinking. Let's build smart infrastructure and plan for the future."
Read the full Q&A with Mark Capell here.
