Justin Livingston declares Bend City Council bid

One day after Bend City Councilor Victor Chudowsky announced he won’t seek re-election and endorsed Justin Livingston as a possible successor, Livingston announced his candidacy for the position Tuesday.

Here’s his news release announcement, in full:

Justin Livingston, 38, a small business owner and veteran of Bend’s Affordable Housing and Street Funding Committees, today announced his candidacy for the Bend City Council.

“The Bend City Council is badly out of touch with Bend residents. The Council’s handling of the gas tax election was a debacle which has cost city taxpayers $70,000. With Councilor Chudowsky announcing he will not run for re-election, the Council needs another voice for fiscal responsibility. I hope to provide that voice,” Livingston said.

Livingston has worked to improve the City’s affordable housing crisis as a member of the City of Bend’s Affordable Housing Committee since February, 2015. On that committee, Livingston has been a consistent advocate for measures that create incentives for affordable housing in Bend.

In 2015, he also served on the city’s Street Funding Committee, and was one of only three members who urged the City Council not to pursue a gas tax. The gas tax was soundly rejected by Bend voters in March 2016.

“Bend is a wonderful place to live, but we have many challenges. Economizing city resources is a must, as is planning for a future in which young working families like mine can thrive. The cost of living and doing business in Bend is a big concern for me. The City Council needs to do everything it can to bring those costs down, and not increase them via tax hikes and burdensome regulations.”

Livingston is a partner in Genesis Construction Group, LLC, which rehabilitates distressed properties throughout the Pacific Northwest. He is also a real estate broker. He is married to Carrie and father of two children ages 9 and 6.