Tech CEO Bill Moseley files for Bend City Council seat
Bill Moseley, founder and CEO of Bend-based software company GL Solutions, announced his candidacy for the Bend City Council on Wednesday, the first day candidates could file for this fall’s four open seats.
Moseley said in his announcement that he is running for Position No. 2 on the council, currently held by Doug Knight, who said he is seeking re-election.
“Bend is at a crossroads of our own making,” Moseley said in a news release. “Our middle class is shrinking, and an increasing number of people can’t afford to live here. We need to stop fighting the growth wars, and focus on real solutions to our problems, so that Bend remains the best place to live, anywhere,”
Moseley said. Moseley founded software company GL Solutions in Bend in 1998. The company, which provides software to state government agencies, has grown to over 60 employees in Bend, with customers around the country.
Moseley was a founding member and former chair of the Bend Economic Development Advisory Board, the citizen committee tasked with improving the economic climate in Bend.
Moseley said he will bring much-needed experience from Bend’s fast-growing high tech sector to the council.
He said he supports fostering a healthy entrepreneurial ecosystem, which starts with ensuring that people who work for a living can afford to live in Bend.
“When well-paid software engineers and police officers cannot find housing in Bend, you know we have a very serious problem,” he said. ” If employees can’t find housing, our economy can’t continue to diversify and generate better-paying jobs.
“Rather than focusing on pet projects that squander money and attention, the City Council must focus its attention on the basics, like repairing our streets and ensuring there is an adequate supply of land for housing.”
In addition to his service on BEDAB, Moseley is a former board member and president of Bend business advisory group Opportunity Knocks.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science, a law degree, and a Masters in Public Administration (city management) from the University of Kansas. Moseley is married, and is father to four children.
Seats 1 through 4 on the council, all four-year terms, are up for grabs this year — those of Mayor Jim Clinton and councilors Victor Chudowsky (who has decided not to run), Sally Russell and Doug Knight.
City Recorder Robyn Christie confirmed Wednesday that Ron (Rondo) Boozzell had filed to run again for council, for Chudowsky’s seat, while Russell had filed for re-election.
Russell announced her decision to run again on Facebook. Here’s her statement.
“I have decided to run for a second term on the Bend City Council, Position 3. I am committed to a functional, healthy, and well planned future for the City of Bend. An inclusive, informed process will always be important to me; I believe it is critical to Bend keeping its special character. I will also always strive to make decisions based on the needs of the entire community. The work is hard, I love this City and community.”
Knight also confirmed to NewsChannel 21 his intention to seek a second four-year term, with this statement:
“This is the process whereby the citizens of Bend determine who best can lead!… I have a long, long history of helping Bend to become one of the best American cities in the West. I have been a champion of maintaining our livability & character as well as encouraging the vitality & commerce within this community for over 20 years. More importantly, I have an army of people behind me who know all the good things (including striving to make it more affordable) I’ve been successful at during my first term, and they are prepared to show it at the ballot box.”
Asked his plans, Clinton told NewsChannel 21 simply: “This is the first filing day, not the last.”
The last day, by the way, is August 30. To make the ballot, candidates have to submit a nominating petition with 150 valid (Bend voter) signatures. Find more information about the process at http://bendoregon.gov/index.aspx?page=1353.
