Bend councilor, mayor Roats won’t seek re-election

(Update: Roats cites ‘exhaustion,’ need to take a break)

Amid changes that include Bend’s first voter-elected mayor, current Mayor and City Councilor Casey Roats announced Wednesday that he won’t seek re-election to the council.

“After four years on the City Council, and four years on various City Council advisory committees, I have decided it’s best for me to not commit to the rigors of a campaign season this fall,” the brief announcement stated.

“I came to this decision while away focusing on my health, family and business,” Roats said. “Serving our community has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. I will miss it dearly and look forward to getting back to public service in the not too distant future.”

Roats, who announced earlier his decision not to run for the mayor’s position, said he will return to the council for its Sept. 5 meeting and plans to finish out his term as Bend’s mayor.

Asked about the health issues mentioned in his statement, Roats told NewsChannel 21 he’s faced “exhaustion primarily. Need to take a break and rest. That’s the bottom line.”

“I just couldn’t summon the energy to slog on any more,” Roats said. “My personal life needs more attention.”

Roats, a fourth-generation Bend resident, was elected to the council in 2014 and was chosen by fellow councilors in January 2017 to serve a two-year term as mayor — the last time that process of choosing a mayor was followed.

Bend voters in May approved city charter changes that will result in a directly elected mayor this fall. Citizens could take out petitions for 150 qualified voter signatures to run for council or mayor starting May 30 and the deadline for submission is Aug. 28.

So far, 13 people have taken out petitions and five have been filed and completed the process to make the ballot, according to the city recorder’s office. The council seats expiring this year are those of Roats, Barb Campbell and Nathan Boddie.