Deschutes Commissioner Unger files for re-election

Alan Unger has announced that he will seek another term as Deschutes County commissioner. Unger was first elected to the commission in 2008.

“I am proud to say that Deschutes County is well managed, has a board of commissioners who work well together and manage the budget to provide quality services in a cost-effective way,” Unger said in last week’s announcement. “We’ve been able to build our reserves for future use, while still addressing the diverse needs of a county as varied as Deschutes.”

The rest of his announcement:

Currently, Unger is working to restructure the state workforce system to provide businesses with qualified workers and provide a path for young people to find better jobs right out of high school. He is guiding a collaborative effort to improve the health of area forests that balances providing logs for local mills, improving recreational experiences and decreasing the risk of severe fires.

Through his membership on the Deschutes Basin Working Group and other area water boards, Unger supports thorough planning to study and implement strategies to provide water for agriculture and growing cities while putting more water back into the river. He is also engaged in growing Cascade East Transit, which connects the cities of Central Oregon with the Bend transit system, providing better service to the citizens of Deschutes County.

“The counties and cities of Central Oregon have a history of strong partnerships and the ability to work together to achieve more than we can separately. When it comes time to talk with the State Legislature and leadership, I provide one of the few voices from eastern Oregon to the Democratic caucus in Salem,” Unger said. “We need new industry, better paying jobs, a better balance between public and private land uses, and more understanding of all the challenges of living in rural Oregon.

“I have been able to bring Central Oregon’s interests and needs to the table in Salem,” he said.

With roots deep in Central Oregon, Unger is invested in securing the future of Deschutes County. “I work hard, every day, to keep Central Oregon a great place to live, work and play, while encouraging new opportunities for our citizens. Every day I talk with people about the issues they face, and it’s the challenge of tackling those needs that keeps me working for you as your Deschutes County Commissioner,” he said.

Unger served on the Redmond City Council and was mayor of Redmond before being elected to the Deschutes County Commission. He and his wife, Beverly, live in Redmond.