Bend Councilor Abernethy won’t seek re-election

Makes early announcement to open door for other candidates

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- For the second time in his political career on the Bend City Council, Bruce Abernethy announced Sunday night he will step down and not seek another term in the fall, to take a break and scale back his busy civic life.

Here's his announcement:

"I am announcing today that I will not be seeking re-election for Bend City Council in November. While thoroughly enjoying the work and the camaraderie (with fellow councilors and dedicated city staff), I have decided that at this time in my life I need a break and want to begin to scale things back a bit – by next January when my successor takes office, I will have served on the City Council for 12 years.

"This announcement is being made now to provide plenty of time for civic-minded people to begin thinking about whether they, too, might want to pursue this unique opportunity.  Being on City Council is an amazing learning experience, and I am happy to talk to any potential candidate on what is involved in both campaigning and then being an effective member of City Council.

"Looking ahead, I recognize there are still 10 months left in my term, and I’m excited to continue tackling many of the critical issues facing this rapidly growing City – transportation, homelessness, public safety, economic development, and climate change to name just a few."

Abernethy, 56, moved to Bend in 1992 and first served on the council from 2000 to 2008, including a stint as mayor. He ran again in 2016 and won his current four-year term.

Asked what he's been most proud of during his most recent stint on the council, he said it was that the council "basically said, 'We're not kicking the can down the road down the road any more. We are going to make some tough political decisions, and we're going to continue the good work the previous council did" on sewer and water issues, as well as sending to voters in May an ambitious $190 million transportation bond measure.

In regards to affordable housing, he said., "We basically said to the city staff, 'Be aggressive,'" and a goal was set of 3,000 more housing units in the city by 2022. The need is greater, and growing, but it's a strong start, in Abernethy's view.

Abernethy isn't scaling back yet. He said he is heading to Eugene Monday with several other Bend-area officials, including Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel, to meet with representatives working on the issues of homelessness.

"Our hope is that we will learn and be able to identify some projects and approaches in addressing homelessness that could be successful here in Central Oregon," he said.

Abernethy, whose day job is as a grant writer for Bend-La Pine Schools, also provided a list of his most recent civic involvement:

Bruce Abernethy – community and civic involvement for 2019

Bend City Council – Member (Mayor Pro Tem/Vice Mayor)

-     Community Climate Action Plan Liaison, Neighborhood Association Liaison, Mirror Pond Committee, Stewardship Committee, Audit Committee

Central Oregon Community College – Board member

-     Real Estate Committee, Keyes Trust Committee, Board Evaluation Committee

Rotary Club of Greater Bend – Member

• Youth Exchange Officer (oversee club’s short and long-term exchange programs), Summit HS Interact Club Liaison, Duck Race Committee, Student Recognition Program MC

Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council – Board Member (Vice-Chair)

-     Executive Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, Rebranding Committee

Bend International School (K-8 charter school) – Board Chair and Grantwriter

-     Sites and Facilities Committee

Better Together – Board Vice Chair and Grantwriter

Ten Friends – Board Chair and Grantwriter

Camp Tamarack (outdoor school) – Board member and Grantwriter

-     Fundraising Committee, Strategic Planning Committee

Central Oregon FUSE (new nonprofit that supports the chronically homeless) – Chair

La Pine Park and Recreation Foundation – Board Chair and Grantwriter

Surdna Foundation (based in NY)

-     Andrus Family Program Committee - member

Swarthmore College Class of 1985 Reunion Committee – Chair

Oregon Environmental Council – Board Member

-     Fundraising and Finance Committee

Central Oregon Regional Solutions Advisory Committee - Member

Central Oregon Health Council

-     Housing Workgroup - Chair

-     Community Advisory Council – Member