Every Bend council opening may be contested

As two Bend city councilors have decided to step off the council, there are now two open seats among the four up for grabs this fall. Two more Bend residents took out petitions to run in recent days, so now it’s at least two candidates for each seat, if all gather the required 150 signatures.

On Wednesday Mayor Jim Clinton announced he won’t be seeking re-election. Also giving up his council seat is Victor Chudowsky. But there are plenty of new hopefuls hoping to snag a council seat and make a difference in Bend.

Former councilor, park board member and school board member Bruce Abernethy and first-time potential candidate Justin Gottlieb will be going head to head for Clinton’s open seat.

“Based on five years of experience and active participation, it just seemed like the right thing to do,” Gottlieb said Friday.

Gottlieb is a Democrat with a Masters in public policy. If elected, he said he will address how to use the 3 percent cannabis sales tax that’s also on the November ballot.

“I believe that could be used to fix Bend’s pothole problem, help with Bend’s housing situations,” Gottlieb said.

Gottlieb said the failure of the gas tax in a March vote made him want to run for councilor.

Councilor Sally Russell also will be running for re-election, and she now has a potential opponent: Wade Fagen, who first ran for the council four years ago.

“I think I can bring something more diverse then what Sally has to offer,” Fagen said.

A Bend native, business owner and family man, Fagen describes himself as a jack of all trades.

“I think we need someone who’s more of a blue collar, has to drive through the traffic every day,” Fagen said.

He said he’s a centralist and environmentalist.

“I want to preserve that old Bend heritage that I grew up with,” Fagen said. He ran in 2012 against Chudowsky but lost in a close race.

Russell issued a statement upon learning of Fagen’s challenge:

“Bend is growing fast. We need leadership that works to manage that growth, focusing on smart growth while preserving and enhancing the Bend we love. This is a very special place and I will work hard to keep it that way as we grow.

“Serving on Bend’s council the past four years, I have worked on accelerating affordable housing availability, expanding community engagement, building local business vitality, increasing river basin health, and balancing responsible growth with fiscal responsibility.

“I am glad that I will have a chance for my voice to be heard through all the City Council Candidate Forums. Forming future conversations for our entire community is an important part of our elections, and those conversations will help voters understand my views and how they contrast with my opponent.’

As for the other two council seats, Ron “Rondo” Boozell is running against Justin Livingston for Chudowsky’s seat and Councilor Doug Knight will take on challenger Bill Moseley.

All potential candidates will need to gather and turn in 150 petition signatures by Aug. 30 before they officially make the ballot.

That’s also the filing deadline for those who want to help lead Bend for the next four years.

With four seats up for grabs, some organizations are questioning if it’s time for a new councilor- election system in Bend.

Bend 2030, the Bend Chamber of Commerce and the City Club of Central Oregon will be hosting two public forums in September and November to discuss the issues, including whether voters should choose the mayor and whether councilors should be elected at large or by geographic zone.

Learn more in the related story with this article.