See the videos of our interviews with the candidates on our Elections page at bendsource.com.
City Elections
Redmond City Council
Our picks: Tobias Colvin, Kathryn Osborne, Barbara Tate
Five people are in the running for three seats on the Redmond City Council, including Tobias Colvin, the manager of the SCP Redmond Hotel and a former appointee to the Council; Raven Hansen, a critical care nursing assistant; Kathryn Osborne, who has a background in business and marketing and who’s served on the Council since 2022; Paul Povey, a local business owner with a background in planning; and Barbara Tate, who owned a catering business in Redmond before retiring.
Hansen opted not to take part in our endorsement interview. Osborne has served with distinction during the past four years and should have the opportunity to serve again. Likewise, we found Colvin to be a skilled and intelligent leader during his time on the Council and in his ongoing service on several City committees; he should have the chance to serve on the Council once again.
The decision on who to support for the remaining slot was a tough one. Paul Povey was raised in Redmond and has an obvious commitment to the city. Tate, too, grew up in Redmond and returned to run a respected business for decades. Both talked about how permitting times and the code enforcement process can sometimes stand in the way of economic progress. Povey discussed the idea of offering varying rates and permitting timelines for individual developers versus large-scale ones, which could help make it easier for local people to develop small-scale housing and develop their properties. We thought that idea was valid.
When asked about how Redmond should approach the issue of homelessness, Povey indicated some support for Redmond’s new managed camp, but didn’t offer much in the way of further solutions beyond the desire to “get them out” of public lands. Tate, meanwhile, offered the suggestion to pursue eviction diversion grants to help people avoid losing housing. While we don’t expect those running for City Council to have all of the solutions, we are looking for candidates to do some homework to begin approaching thorny problems. Tate indicated more of that during our interview.
Likewise, Tate offered some ideas to address the existential issues Redmond is facing around fire and water, suggesting Redmond could pursue FireWise neighborhood grants to help residents create defensible space and better prepare their homes for the threat of fire. She also suggested offering water rebates for those who demonstrated water conservation efforts on their properties. These are indications of a candidate who’s already working to help Redmond move forward.
Redmond Mayor
Our pick: Ed Fitch
Redmond’s mayoral race is a matchup between incumbent Ed Fitch and fellow City Councilor Jay Patrick. (Another person, Charles Webster Baer, is also in the running, but we did not consider him a viable candidate in this race.) Patrick’s priorities include infrastructure and “working as a team,” he told us — something he believes is missing on the Council right now. Fitch identified water and transportation as his two biggest priorities — both issues that have come before this Council on numerous fronts over the past several years.
Water is where we find one of the key differentiators between these two. Fitch championed the new tiered water rate structure in Redmond that is going to charge big water users more for their increased consumption, and, ideally, help people regulate their overuse. Patrick seemed to look at this new structure as just more pressure from state regulators and voted against it. We think Fitch’s approach is more pragmatic in the face of a declining aquifer. Likewise, Patrick voted against the long-awaited managed camp in Redmond, which is meant to help move people off other private and public lands. We agree with Patrick’s assertion that we should address the root causes of homelessness as part of the solution, but that doesn’t solve the short-term challenges of fire danger and sanitation.
Patrick brings up a valid point about a need for a collaborative approach — one that any hopeful city councilor or mayor should heed. Still, our pick in this race is the incumbent.
Bend Mayor
Our pick: Melanie Kebler
In this race, challenger Bernadette Strome wants the residents of Bend to support an unknown candidate who has very obviously not prepared much for this job. Strome talked at length during our interview about the importance of gathering “good data” to help us develop plans and pivot from those plans as needed. But in our conversation about homelessness, she suggested the notion of having data to assess which programs were seeing the highest level of success — never mentioning and seeming not to know that the City of Bend maintains an entire dashboard, the Bend Housing Data Hub, that shows the number of people who have transitioned to housing, the utilization rate of shelters and much more. Perhaps it’s true that there’s more and better data to be gathered, but the way this candidate tells it, we as Bend residents should go back to square one — to the first steps of extensive data-collection, and then wait for the new mayor to develop some brilliant new plan based on that protracted process. Strome wants to be able to listen to constituents and help them engage with their city government, but we see no evidence that she’s done the same to prepare for this position.
Four years ago, Melanie Kebler was elected mayor. She takes the job seriously, shows up professionally, always does her homework (and takes this newspaper to task when we get it wrong — as she should), and understands the needs, the opportunities and the limitations of Bend. We trust her to charge forward on improving our transportation system, managing growth responsibly and seeing the city do its share in promoting economic development in Bend. With ongoing cuts at the federal level, Bend needs strategic leadership right now, not a gamble on someone who barely knows the job.
County Elections
Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners, Pos. 3
Our pick: Lauren Connally
The two candidates on the ballot for Position 3 are quality individuals whose work has touched some of the community’s most vulnerable; Lauren Connally with her past work with veterans, and Amy Sabbadini with her decades as an educator.
In an incredibly close race, Connally stood out as more measured and prepared for what will be a tough cycle on the County Commission. We appreciated Connally’s knowledge around Deschutes County Health Services — especially the crucial role it plays for people’s mental health. She also had pragmatic things to say about the issue of homelessness and indicated support for more permanent solutions that go beyond the County’s recent effort to fund a managed camp in Redmond.
We saw strength in Connally’s realistic approach to the coming years, with reduced federal funding, and the hard choices that will need to be made. Connally was not afraid to say that in a funding crunch, she may be inclined to fund health services over homeless services. That may very well happen with the Temporary Safe Stay Area at Juniper Ridge, whose funds are set to expire next summer. When or if budget shortfalls materialize — as it seems they will — Connally appeared more ready to avoid sugar-coating the problems and making the tough calls.
Connally also had practical things to say about the oversight needed at the sheriff’s office. While she would not go so far as to opine that the office should be appointed, rather than elected, it was clear she took the issue with the seriousness it warrants.
Connally did not impress us with her support of the district mapping proposal that is before Deschutes County voters this November, nor with her argument that different areas of the County need their own representation. As Sabbadini pointed out, both outgoing commissioners Tony DeBone and Patti Adair were from rural parts of the county — so the notion that the County has thus far been run with a Bend-centric position is simply not true. On the topic of the map, Sabbadini was more aligned with the values of this editorial board; however, that matter will be decided by voters by the time one of these candidates becomes commissioner. If the map passes, both agreed they’d want to see the lines redrawn following the next U.S. Census. In other words, voters will decide how they want to be represented; what we want in a commissioner is someone who will ensure those boundaries are drawn in the fairest manner possible. Both candidates seemed committed to that.
Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners, Pos. 5
Our pick: Morgan Schmidt
Our endorsement in this race has not changed since we named Morgan Schmidt our choice during the May primary, when she faced off against multiple other candidates. In the two-person race between her and Rob Imhoff this November, the former pastor and Executive Director of the local Red Cross is still our pick. Both of these candidates have done the homework to understand how Deschutes County operates and the players involved. We liked Imhoff’s idea of building a sports complex at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center, and Schmidt’s support of the creation of a county ombudsman’s office — two examples of the preparation of these candidates.
When it comes down to it, though, the values of this editorial board align more with Schmidt’s. While Imhoff is in favor of a buffer zone around Central Oregon cities where homeless camping would be banned, Schmidt sees the reality: that nearby services such as safe camping and safe parking help keep all of us safer. It is high time that the County Commission was populated by leaders who actually want to see the County lead on this issue. Our endorsement remains with Schmidt.
Deschutes County Sheriff
Our pick: Ty Rupert
We don’t fault anyone who harbors doubt, or even downright disdain about the state of things at the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. A culture of retaliation and dishonesty has pervaded the office for years. While they may or may not have taken part in all of it, the two people running to be the next elected sheriff have worked in the office long enough to have been at least in some way affected by all the drama.
The retaliations and recriminations of longtime former sheriff Shane Nelson and the downright dishonesty of short-lived sheriff Kent Vander Kamp are enough to make any voter think twice about casting their vote in this race. However; rather than flinging up our hands, we as voters should be leaning in. The Deschutes County Sheriff has over 200,000 supervisors, and they are us. Opting not to take part in this election is opting to say that the past troubles are not worth our time to correct — and further, that they are not the public’s problem. Whoever you decide to vote for in this race, do it in the spirit of having skin in the game.
This is hands-down the hardest endorsement we have had to make in the November 2026 election. Through the reporting in this newspaper, and through our endorsement interview process, we have discovered mistakes made by both candidates. In quick summary, candidate James “Mac” McLaughlin was found by an independent investigator to be guilty of failing to file a report containing potentially unflattering information about his colleague, following a controversial SWAT raid. He’s also known to have registered as a Democrat just ahead of his appeal to the local Democratic party to endorse him.
Interim sheriff (appointed by county commissioners after the fall of Vander Kamp) Ty Rupert is being investigated for allegedly making some mistakes in using County resources to campaign for the office of sheriff.
None of these are actions worthy of praise — and were we living in a county that has not gone through what it has gone through in recent years, these actions would very likely not have the weight they have now. Were we not in an election, McLaughlin would likely have gotten a slap on the wrist for his actions following the SWAT raid, rather than facing termination.
These are two candidates, both with records of military service followed by long stints at the sheriff’s office, who are inheriting a community that is justifiably distrustful. Mistakes aside, we find them both to be upstanding people with the backgrounds and experience to be decent leaders. Rupert naturally has the upper hand, being the one already serving. So, the question for our board became: In light of the information we know about the candidates, their backgrounds and their decision-making on the job, does McLaughlin deserve to be promoted, over Rupert?
While it’s true that the investigator looking into the circumstances of the SWAT raid found several of the claims against McLaughlin to be unfounded, that investigator did find cause to elevate the inquiry on at least one major point. Failing to file a report that might make one’s self and one’s colleague look bad was a poor decision, and in regular circumstances, may not be a fire-able offense. But a candidate running for the County’s highest office needs to keep his nose clean, even when he thinks the cameras are not running and no one else will find out.
We don’t believe McLaughlin should be fired for such a thing — nor should he be promoted. But we should also watch how Rupert handles this delicate matter with his subordinate, because it could speak to whether he’s really committed to a change of culture at the office.
During our interview with the candidates, we asked Rupert plainly whether he will be the one to decide whether to fire McLaughlin once the final report is out on the matter. The decision is Rupert’s to make — unless he decides to let it be the decision of County Administrator Nick Lelack, he said. If Rupert wants to show that this is not a political decision, he should commit now, ahead of the election, to letting Lelack be the one to fire McLaughlin (or not).
Both candidates indicated support for either a county ombudsman or a citizens’ review board to add some oversight to the office; Rupert and McLaughlin should be sure to follow through on those important initiatives.
Rupert has made quite a show of his desire to cut expenses at the sheriff’s office, and to be a good steward of county resources. These are positive moves. How he handles the results of the investigation into McLauglin is the next step in a long quest to show voters that retaliation and politicking are behind us at the sheriff’s office.
This is a tough call for voters, as both candidates have a long tenure of service to their community, but we believe Rupert is the better choice in this election.
Deschutes County Circuit Court Judge
No endorsement
As the Source reported in its article, “Compassion, ‘Tone and Tenor,” candidates for judge positions can’t offer a broad opinion on matters that may come before them in court. That basically means in spite of our clever questions, it’s next to impossible to wrest defining answers from them. Check out that article that outlines the backgrounds of the candidates, and use it to inform your choice.
Oregon State
Oregon House District 53
Our pick: Emerson Levy
With Democrats currently holding the majority in both chambers of the state legislature as well as the governor’s office, it could be easy for a Democrat like Emerson Levy to simply fade into the blue and go along for the partisan ride. But with a mixed district, Levy seems to understand that a more holistic, kitchen-table approach is needed. You can see that in the community-centered priorities she told us she’s setting for her next term in the Oregon State Legislative Assembly, which include reducing the cost of prescription drugs, preventing and mitigating wildfire, regulating e-bikes and protecting kids online. In addition, she’s committed to keeping Oregon kids covered by health insurance as the state navigates a billion-dollar deficit in the coming session.
Levy has seemingly navigated the needs of her purple district through her years in office and has brought some important investments home as a result. She helped to fund the first and only youth psychiatric hospital bed in our region, and for championing a youth e-bike safety bill that brought some clarity to what adolescents should and shouldn’t be able to do. She also supported legislation that would have banned cell phones in schools (though that was ultimately achieved through Gov. Tina Kotek’s executive order).
Levy’s experience tackling the complicated business of preventing and battling wildfires gave her a noted leg up on her challenger in this race, Michael Summers, who spoke in broad terms about things like incentivizing forest clearing and thoughtful logging, but who didn’t possess the nitty-gritty knowledge about recent legislation aimed at mitigation, past-due federal emergency funds and other details that Levy did.
With his connections and charisma, Summers could be a good legislator. But Levy’s hard work over the last several years is too valuable to toss away.
Oregon Governor
Our pick: Tina Kotek
We commend the two candidates in this race for their poise and preparation during the debates in Bend and beyond. There’s no doubt that both Christine Drazan and Tina Kotek are versed on the issues and ready for the challenges in this very tight race. Drazan has the folksiness and local connections that may make her more likeable on camera, and she talks a good game as it pertains to supporting local businesses, but under Drazan we fear a regime that moves Oregon backward. It’s true that the state is struggling with educational outcomes and in attracting business investment, but we can’t stomach the notion of going even further backward in the realms of abortion and the environment, to boot.
Kotek has fallen short of her own housing goals, and in spite of showing up in our community numerous times over the past year to celebrate improved attendance rates at local schools, has not moved the needle much on educational outcomes. But if there’s any silver lining to the recent events at Silver Rail Elementary, perhaps it’s that conversations about schools will have more prevalence in the governor’s office and beyond this year. Our endorsement goes to the incumbent here.
Federal Elections
Oregon Congressional District 2
Our pick: Chris Beck
In some quarters, you might find Rep. Cliff Bentz railing about the national debt; in others, he’ll defend the passage of that “beautiful bill” that is moving the nation backward in terms of public health and so much more. That bill alone added up to $4.7 trillion to the national debt, according to the Committee for a Responsible Budget. Bentz has done nothing to move toward the end of a so-called war (not approved by Congress) that is hitting American pocketbooks hard at the gas pump. He’s stood behind a president whose tariffs have caused increases in consumer prices and done damage to our relationships with our closest allies. All of these things hit home in the increased costs of transportation, energy, and food.
In addition, Bentz has made very little effort to reach out and hear the concerns or answer directly to his constituents. Chris Beck’s experience includes a three-term stint as an Oregon state legislator in the 1990s and early 2000s, and time working for a federal agency. It’s a long-shot race for Beck, but we still go on the record saying we can do better than Bentz.
Oregon Congressional District 5
Our pick: Janelle Bynum
It doesn’t take someone immersed in local politics to see that current County Commissioner Patti Adair is totally outmaneuvered in this race. With all the onslaughts that are coming from the federal level, the people of Congressional District 5 need a fighter in Washington — and in this cage match, it’s not really even a contest. Some might have found Janelle Bynum’s style of debating with Patti Adair to be off-putting, but that is the kind of feist and unwavering values we need advocating for us in D.C. Adair’s penchant for the non sequitur and her inability to directly answer questions may be sorta cute at the county level, but those are liabilities in a higher office. This position deserves a serious candidate, and Bynum delivers that.
Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.
This article appears in the Source October 22, 2026.
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