Decision 2026: WATCH – Candidates for Bend Mayor to Debate
Editor's Note: This debate aired at 6 pm on October 8, 2026 on KTVZ-TV
LIVE BLOG:
6:45 pm - Bernadette's closing statement: She believes there are two entirely different visions of Bend - one of elite politicians that believe in protecting their own radical agenda who are leading us to millions in debt - and one with an unconventional leader who respects your hard-earned money, your voice, and families. She noted she is endorsed by Cascades East Association of Realtors and local businesses.
6:43 pm - Melanie's closing statement: We are in a serious time in our country, state, and city - we need serious leadership. She knows the city and knows what it needs. Her focus will be on making infrastructure improvements, reducing crime, supporting affordable housing, and reducing homeless. She wants to help working families, elders, kids - wants them to be able to get around town safety, protect their environment, and support affordable housing for them. She noted she is endorsed by labor unions, housing and safety advocates, firefighter unions, and current and former local elected leaders.
6:39 pm - Aaron asks about AI safety - how does the city plan to use AI or expand its use? Melanie replied saying we should use every resource to be efficient and save money, but they have rules on its use and privacy concerns. Melanie added she believes in using it for data analysis and streamlining things, but wants to be cautious with generative AI and noted she does not use it herself to generate or write anything. Bernadette replied saying we need to be cautious, make sure we know how our personal data is being used, would never support unauthorized data collection of any person, and would not support anything that could infringe on our rights.
6:29 pm - Spencer asks about problems with recruiting new law enforcement officers. Melanie replied noting lateral hires from other departments because Bend is a place where people want to live and work and the city has helped to meet local hiring needs; she noted crime is down and she supports new technology, like red light cameras, to help officers and enforcement. Bernadette replied saying she heard in Melanie's response that they are focusing on hiring, but she feels hiring is outpacing the population growth; she wants to focus on hiring in-town residents and them provide training, adding that red light cameras are an infringement of privacy.
6:26 pm - Aaron asks about wildfire season and preparing the city for an emergency. Melanie replied saying emergency preparedness is a key focus - noted her support of local fire departments and programs that help residents prepare their properties. Melanie added the city has unique relationships with rural districts to keep all areas safe. Melanie noted new construction requirements for home hardening, defensible space code, creating resilient properties, and putting resources in to have everyone understand the risk and support the work behind preparation and response. Bernadette replied saying we all need to keep the risks in mind when we are building and landscaping our homes and properties. Bernadette added that education is important and believes in providing incentives to educate and take proactive steps, also wants to ease congestion in city to make it safer for evacuations.
6:15 pm - Spencer asks about addiction services. Bernadette replied saying she believes in compassion but we have heavily invested in these things and people need to be held accountable if they are not following the rules - she would continue to fund what's working but not what isn't. Melanie said the city doesn't provide addiction services, but the point of services is to provide stability; noted police support in offering people options - whether that's jail, mental health services, or programs.
6:13 pm - Aaron asks about homeless camping in a public space when there is no shelter. Melanie spoke of work to increase shelter spaces and types - noted her work to create the Lighthouse, navigation center. Melanie added they work with homeless to inform them about where they can and can't be and why. Bernadette said everyone deserves a second chance, but we need the city to be clean and safe; the streets are unmanaged - we need to help people, but we need to hold them accountable. Bernadette added a large number of empty shelter beds, yet people are still camping on sidewalks - we don't need more shelter spaces, we need to support police and hold people accountable.
6:07 pm - Aaron asks about making it affordable enough for frontline workers to live in Bend where they work. Melanie replied noting affordable housing projects that have been built with priority given to those frontline workers. Bernadette replied saying she believes in a bottom up instead of a top down approach, thoughtful development for neighborhoods that don't just focus on density, where people can have the option to rent or buy.
6:04 pm - Spencer asks about affordable housing. Bernadette replied saying we need to build homes people can afford. Bernadette said we have 1000 empty apartments and we need to use cheap city land to building housing for those who live here now. Bernadette added she wants fair rules to make sure new projects include a mix of housing, ensure community to lift everyone up. Melanie replied saying housing costs have been a longstanding issue here. Melanie noted her role in building more housing than ever before, she's proud of partnerships with organizations like Habitat for Humanity. Melanie added we have used all available city land for affordable housing.
6:03 pm - Melanie Kebler's opening statement: She is running for re-election to provide a thriving city that is safe, inclusive, and affordable for everyone. In her tenure she has helped flattened rent, brought crime down, decreased homelessness. She wants to support small businesses, build better traffic systems, and support public transit. She wants to make smart investments in public safety, focus on the core of Bend with plans for mixed income areas. It's a serious moment in our country that is affecting our state and city -- she wants a sustainable future, to harness growth for good, protect environment, and add jobs. She added she wants her daughter to grow up here, be able to live here, and work here.
6:01 pm - Bernadette Strome's opening statement: The opinions of her - from her opponent, politicians, and others - are wrong; she has been dismissed because they claim she's not credentialed and she doesn't have the experience. What's really happening, Strome added, is that they are threatened by her. Strome said she's here to give a roaring voice to all residents. Her message to her supporters - 'Be proud and watch closely. Tonight, we take our city back.'
6:00 pm - Lee Anderson introduces candidates, Aaron Switzer with The Source, and Spencer Sacks with KTVZ News.
5:58 pm - The debate has begun on NBC, KTVZ.com, the KTVZ News App and KTVZ+
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- As part of KTVZ News' debate series, The Central Oregon Debates, this week KTVZ News will host the candidates for Bend Mayor.
Candidates Melanie Kebler and Bernadette Strome are scheduled to appear LIVE on Thursday at 6:00 pm.
The forum will be moderated by Lee Anderson. The broadcast panel will feature Spencer Sacks, KTVZ’s political reporter, and Aaron Switzer, founder and publisher of The Source.
This event offers the candidates an opportunity to address critical issues facing the City of Bend and outline their strategic priorities for voters ahead of the upcoming election.
Viewers can tune in to the Bend Mayoral debate this Thursday at 6:00 pm on NBC or stream the event live via KTVZ.com, the KTVZ News App and KTVZ+.
