Bend City Council Has the Bend City Council lost its fricken mind? This is my own “Political Analysis,” in effect “the story behind the story” that most readers will not see in the local press. I believe Sally Russell is a “wolf in sheep’s clothing.” She ran as a member of the Democratic Party and […]
Bend City Council
Posted inNews
Protest of Chris Piper’s Appointment to the City Council
About 30 people braved the cold weather Jan. 30 to voice their displeasure with the Bend City Council appointing Chris Piper to fill Sally Russell’s seat for the next two years.
Posted inOpinion
Transparency and listening fall off in appointee process
Ahead of the November election, then-Mayor Pro Tem Sally Russell promised, were she to be elected as Bend’s first directly elected mayor, that she would prioritize listening to constituents as she makes City decisions. Following the election, then Mayor-Elect Russell, tasked, along with the rest of the council, with appointing someone to fill the council […]
Posted inOpinion
Letters to the Editor
City Council Appointment Process I am concerned about the recent city council appointment process and the missed opportunity for Bend to become truly welcoming. The process was promoted as public and non-partisan but appears was neither. Kathy Austin, James Dorofi and Kerani Mitchell were the top three candidates at the close of Monday’s council meeting, […]
Posted inNews
Sally Russell Sworn in as Mayor
Russell became Bend’s first directly elected mayor since Mickey Mouse first appeared on screen
During a brief Bend City Council meeting on Wednesday night, Municipal Court judge Gwen Moore swore in Sally Russell as Bend’s first directly elected mayor since 1928. “This is a night of celebration,” Russell said before the swearing in and after changing her pro tem placard to read “mayor.” The Bend Children’s Choir performed “America […]
Posted inOpinion
Letters to the Editor
In Response to, “Powering the Dredge” on 12/13 The so-called “process” referred to by Mr. Fuller reached its culmination during the March 18, 2015, Bend City Council meeting. The crowd overflowed into the lobby, and at least 75 percent of those offering public testimony DISAGREED with the “alternative vision,” which would have used up $5 […]
Posted inOpinion
Bag Ban: A Litany of Laughable Arguments Against
As we reported in a web story last week, on Dec. 5, the Bend City Council had its first reading of an ordinance that would see Bend’s consumption of plastic bags cut down significantly. The new ordinance, up for a second reading later this month, would prohibit retailers from handing out plastic bags at the […]
Posted inNews
Powering the Dredge
The latest proposal to fund Mirror Pond dredging includes increasing franchise fees for Pacific Power
Leaders in Bend are looking at a new way to fund the dredging of Mirror Pond: Increasing franchise fees for the utility that owns Newport Dam. The proposal, which became more of a reality following last week’s meetings with PacifiCorp—which owns Pacific Power—would see the City of Bend contributing $300,000 to dredging, with Bend Park […]
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Bend City Council Announces Appointee Process
The Council seeks to fill newly elected mayor Sally Russell’s remaining two years as a councilor
After Sally Russell takes her newly elected position as Bend’s mayor, it will leave the City Council absent one councilor. That spot will soon be filled by a Council appointee. According to the City of Bend, the city charter requires that a vacancy on the Council be filled within 30 days of declaring the vacancy […]
Posted inOpinion
Don’t Start Naming Councilors Names Yet
As 2018 fades from view, we see 2019 approaching with a host of new leadership. A new Deschutes County Commissioner will join the ranks. An avowed advocate for schools—in the form of a current Bend-La Pine Schools board member—moves to the Oregon House, representing District 54. In District 53, a younger, moderate politician replaces longtime […]