Redmond’s Endicott honored by mayors assn.

Redmond Mayor George Endicott received a Mayor’s Leadership Award during the closing banquet of the Oregon Mayors Association Summer Conference, held Saturday in Pendleton. Mayor Endicott was one of three mayors statewide to receive this year’s award.

“Receiving the 2014 Oregon Mayors Association Mayors Leadership Award is both rewarding and humbling,” Endicott said.

“‘Rewarding’ because to be recognized by one’s peers as a respected leader in Oregon is an ultimate acknowledgement of the hard work and dedication I’ve given to Redmond, the region and the state. ‘Humbling’ because I think there are Mayors more deserving of this award am I,” he remarked.

“I hope it is obvious that this recognition belongs to many people; the City Council, the City staff, and those people who put their trust in me to represent Redmond as your ,ayor. I look forward to continuing to serve you in the future.”

Serving his sixth year as mayor of Redmond, Mayor Endicott’s level of involvement locally, regionally and statewide is impressive.

In his community, Mayor Endicott established the Redmond Development Commission as well as the Mayor’s Youth Initiative, allowing students to participate on city commissions and committees. He chairs both the city’s Urban Renewal Agency Board and the Contract Review Board, and is a member of the Redmond Executive Association.

He assisted in the passage of the $93 million Downtown Urban Renewal Plan Amendment, a $40 million expansion of the airport, and the successful transformation of SW 5th and SW 6th Street after the US 97 reroute. He has successfully recruited businesses such as Central Oregon Truck Company, BasX, Consumer Cellular and many more. He makes regular monthly radio addresses and is frequently interviewed by the media regarding local issues.

Regionally, Mayor Endicott chairs the Central Oregon Cities Organization (or “COCO”), and serves on the Central Oregon Advisory Council on Transportation and the Deschutes Water Alliance. At the statewide level, he was appointed by the governor to the Resilience Task Force and serves on the Local Officials Advisory Committee to the Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC). He frequently visits his state senators and representatives to discuss local issues as well as issues affecting Oregon cities, and he is a spokesman for the League of Oregon Cities’ “speakers’ bureau” on property tax reform.

Mayor Endicott is the immediate past president of the League of Oregon Cities, chairs the League’s Community Development Policy Committee, and was the 2011 recipient of the League’s prestigious James C. Richards Memorial Award.

In the nomination materials, city staff recall that Mayor Endicott “was the guiding strength for staff during the recession. He gave oversight of drastic budget cuts while giving total support to staff and displaying pride for the community.”

Established in 1993, the Mayors Leadership Award recognizes the valuable contributions that mayors throughout Oregon make to their communities each year. In judging the nominees, the Selection Committee considers whether the nominee has:

1. Demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities which have contributed to lasting benefits in their city and the community as a whole;
2. Shown considerable involvement in community affairs and intergovernmental relations;
3. Shown exceptional skill in helping to facilitate productive relationships between the governing body and city employees; and
4. Helped other Oregon mayors reach their full potential as community leaders.