Bend Councilor Chudowsky won’t seek re-election

Bend City Councilor Victor Chudowsky, whose recent leading opposition to a voter-rejected city gas tax put him at odds with a majority of his colleagues, announced Monday he won’t seek re-election this fall, having made progress on many issues of interest.

Chudowsky was elected to a four-year term in November 2012. Here’s his statement, in full. We’ll have more tonight on NewsChannel 21:

“This is to announce that I won’t be running for re-election to the Bend City Council. Recent developments on the gas tax, UGB expansion, and the water system have gone in the direction I wanted and I’m satisfied with what I’ve accomplished, so it is time to move on.

“I have been volunteering for the City in one way or another for almost a decade. Before serving on Council I served on the Budget Committee for two terms, as well as citizen committees dealing with fully staffing our fire department and improving the bus system.

“I understand that Justin Livingston is interested in running for my seat. If so, I strongly endorse Justin. He is a local business owner and board member of the Old Farms Neighborhood Association. He serves well on the Affordable Housing Committee. He also served on the Streets Funding Committee, where he pushed for the development of a non-tax option. The Bend City Council needs turnover and a change in direction.

“I’m most proud of the following accomplishments, where I played an instrumental role. Obviously, many other people deserve a lot of credit as well, but these are the areas where I feel my efforts made a difference:

UGB expansion: The failed effort in 2008 was a disaster for the City, causing us to spend many millions on a remand as well as a lot of time. The delay contributed to a housing shortage. The remand was on the back burner when I was elected. When I took over as chair of the Urban Growth Boundary Steering Committee I re-energized this process and helped get it the political support it needed. Along with City Planner Brian Rankin, I pushed for following state land use law to the letter, developing a consensus-based process involving a large number of valuable citizen volunteers, and keeping us to a strict timeline. We are now nearing the finish line on this process thanks to the efforts of the Technical Advisory Committees, Brian Rankin and Damian Syrnyk on the City staff, the Steering Committee, and the consultant team. I’m happy with the extensive redevelopment expected to occur in parts of the City – the “opportunity areas.” Bend is going to get better.
Gas tax: I opposed it and I’m glad that the citizens of Bend sent a strong message to the City Council on taxation and spending.
Water system: The grand opening was last week, and now Bend residents now enjoy water of unparalleled quality. I’ve been a staunch defender of the City’s water rights and our dual-source water supply.
Bus system: As a board member of Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council I pushed for a bigger “ask” of the City for bus service. This led to a 30% increase in funding and an increase in the level of service, including new routes.
Fire Department: I opposed separation of the Fire Department from the City government and pushed for the local option levy instead. We increased staffing without a tax hike. Fire Chief Larry Langston deserves huge credit for subsequently coming up with a new “small team” concept for ambulance calls and reducing response times. He did an excellent job.
Bulletin Land: like the first UGB attempt this was another disaster that cost taxpayers many millions. I’m glad that we sold the property to a hotel instead of using it for some other purpose, as room tax revenues will make up for the money we lost.
VisitBend: I pushed to remove City Councilors from the Board of this organization and to give it more autonomy, as a true independent contractor. Oversight through the Bend Economic Development Advisory Board is more effective than what existed before.
Cannabis: I served on the subcommittee of Council on cannabis policy. We came up with a good land use and regulatory system that balances the interests of the industry and consumers with the concerns of the Parks Board and the School Board.

“In general I’ve been a strong advocate for people in the business community, whether they were owners of local farm stands, concert promoters, or members of the Chamber of Commerce. Over time I also started to realize that the interests of seniors deserve more attention. Many are upset with the increasing cost of living here. There is no local organization that represents their interests.

“One of the greatest surprises and pleasures of my time on Council has been working with the City staff. They’re awesome and totally dedicated to this city. We are fortunate to have Eric King here.

“The buck stops with the City Council. They set policy. Dissatisfaction with City policies should be directed at Councilors and not staff, and people should vote accordingly.”