Bend’s City Council position 1 race has two qualified and competent candidates runningโand while the position is nonpartisan, the two bring differing backgrounds and philosophies. While it’s true that a city council’s role lies in handling the mundane business of roads and sewers and city codes, increasingly it’s clear that Bend also is sorely in […]
Deschutes County
Vote Anthony Broadman, Bend City Council Pos. 2
As City Councilor Bill Moseley’s dramatic tenure comes to an end, we welcome the progressive idealism Anthony Broadman will bring to this seat. Where Moseley’s attitude was often cavalier and self-absorbed, Broadman will represent Bend’s blue voters with measured pragmatism. As an indigenous rights lawyer, Broadman’s life’s work is centered on advocating for the underserved […]
Vote Chris Piper for Bend City Council Pos. 3
With two veteran councilors walking away this yearโincluding one moderate and one decidedly conservative councilorโthe next iteration of the Bend City Council is undoubtedly going to look very different. We’d be pleased to see a progressive council that’s also not afraid to stand up to powerful private interestsโand at the same time, we recognize that […]
Vote Rita Schenkelberg Bend City Council Pos. 4
Bend City Councilor Bruce Abernethy, who is not running for re-election, has served as both a Bend City Councilor and Mayor on and off for the last 20 years. During that time he’s gone from a die-hard champion of Bend’s “slow growth” movement to a more moderate voice in City politics. He was raised in […]
Vote Eileen Kiely Oregon Senate District 27
Tim Knopp has been serving in District 27 (Redmond, Tumalo, Sunriver and Bend) since 2013 and during his tenure, the votes he has cast are stacking up against him. He voted against the Student Success Act, which will bring in an estimated $18 million to Bend-La Pine Schools. He was among the Republican senators to […]
Vote Scott Schaier for Deschutes County Sheriff
More attention has been placed on law enforcement agencies in recent months, and with that comes a more informed conversation around the impact that its leaders can have on an organization. As Central Oregon grows and changes, we believe it’s time for new leadership at the Deschutes County Sheriff’s office. While L. Shane Nelson has […]
Vote Jack Zika for Oregon House District 53
Throughout this campaign, Jack Zika has riffed about being “the housing guy.” While said lightheartedly, Zika has indeed had some big wins for housing for both Bend and Redmond in the two years he’s served as representative. He was behind the bill establishing a state pilot program that carved out land outside both Bend and […]
Vote YES on 9-139 – Bonds to Renovate, Upgrade, Construct and Equip Library Facilities
Those who regularly attend cultural events in Central Oregon know a central truth: This region, growing at breakneck speed and poised to welcome tens of thousands more residents in the coming years, is sorely lacking in its indoor cultural facilities. While plenty of public entities could take up the charge to deliver the type of […]
Listen: Criminal Justice Reform with John Hummel ๐ง
For this week’s “Bend Don’t Break” podcast we talk with John Hummel, who has been serving as the Deschutes County District Attorney since he was first elected in 2014. Before that, he served on the Bend City Council for six years, and then resigned in 2007 to earn his Masters in Public Policy from Johns […]
Passing on the Grass?
Since recreational marijuana grow operations were first legalized statewide in 2015, land-use disputes have overwhelmed Deschutes County officials. An ongoing influx of controversial applications prompted the enforcement of a county moratorium in August of last year, prohibiting new grow and operation applications. On the upcoming November ballot, local voters will have the opportunity to opt […]

