Decision 2026: Bend City Councilor Ariel Méndez Launches Re-election Campaign

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Bend City Councilor Ariel Méndez launched his re-election campaign today, June 29th, 2026, for position 5 on the Bend City Council. Méndez is seeking a second term to continue his work towards a safer and more connected future for Bend, Oregon.

Méndez has served on the City Council since 2023, representing position 5. He is an associate faculty member in political science at OSU-Cascades. Méndez expressed that while progress has been made during his first term, there is still work ahead. “We’ve accomplished a lot,” Méndez said. “But there’s more work to be done.”

Méndez recalled his campaign vision from four years ago, emphasizing the development of local amenities and safe routes to school for children. "Four years ago, I campaigned on a vision of a Bend where every neighborhood has a park or other amenity nearby and every child can get to school safely. Today, that vision is being built on our streets,” Méndez said.

At Bear Creek Elementary School, where Méndez’s children attended, a crossing guard noted a 400% increase in students arriving on foot or by bike over the past several years. Méndez highlighted this as a model for other schools. "That's the kind of progress I want to see at all of our schools," Méndez said. "Every one of those kids arrives ready to learn, and the community benefits from less traffic and cleaner air."

State Senator Anthony Broadman has expressed support for Méndez’s re-election, citing their collaborative efforts. "Progress on transportation, housing, and sustainable growth happens when state and local governments work together. Ariel is a collaborative partner I rely on to translate legislative wins into a safer, more affordable Bend," Sen. Broadman said.

Mayor Melanie Kebler also endorsed Méndez, noting his decision-making process and focus on children’s needs. "Ariel makes data-driven decisions that reflect our core values like access to nature, water conservation, and public safety. His focus on the needs of kids is a good way to ensure that Bend works for everyone," Mayor Kebler said.

During his first term, Méndez supported initiatives that reduced homelessness in Bend by 16% in the last year, reversing a decade-long trend. He also supported continued investment in the Community Response Team, which aims to improve public safety while reducing costs and providing support for people experiencing mental health crises.

Méndez’s efforts contributed to the construction of hundreds of income-restricted affordable homes, a figure twice the per capita national average. The city also maintained the Fire Department’s award-winning response times for cardiac survival rates.

Additionally, Méndez helped secure over $60 million in federal grants for transportation projects, affordable housing, and clean water. He supported the adoption of a Climate Impact Fee on natural gas appliances in new homes, which reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

Conservation efforts and reduced per capita consumption led to no new water usage as Bend grows. Investments were also made in street paving, sweeping, and plowing, alongside first-time investments in transportation safety. The city maintained its 48-hour response policy for filling potholes.

Transparency efforts included increasing access to information with new city data dashboards for police, fire, transportation, permitting, and other departments. Méndez emphasized the importance of managing growth to maintain Bend's quality of life. "Bend is a wonderful place to live," Méndez said. "It's our job to keep it that way. We need to manage growth so that Bend is safe, welcoming, and affordable for everyone living and working here."