UPDATE: Commissioners decide to postpone Map C decision by 2 weeks after hearing from Deschutes County residents
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- County Commissioners wrapped up 2 days of public input relating to the much debated Map C Plan to district Deschutes County into 5 districts. They have now delayed the decision by at least 2 weeks.
After two days of public input, county commissioners told KTVZ News feedback was mostly Negative.
Now they are considering other options.
Commissioner Phil Chang told KTVZ News, “A lot of people asked to, scrap this and come back and try again. A lot of people said, if you're going to do these districts, do it where candidates would come from districts. But then every voter gets to vote for every seat.”
“As I say, some people have come out of the woodwork telling us how bad this is and how this is un-American or, hey, this is great," Commissioner Tony Debone told KTVZ News. "We're going to be able to have, you know, balanced representation from five geographic areas."
Commissioner Patti Adair told KTVZ News, “My thought, because I'm a numbers person, is that the unaffiliated and the independent voters would be the majority of each of the districts, because 43% of Deschutes County is is that group."
To clear up some of the confusion, In the 2026 county commissioner elections, voters will elect all four seats up for election. Under the proposal, future elections beginning in 2028 would have residents voting for one seat within their district.
(Previous Story from January 20th, 2026)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners heard from more than 40 residents on Tuesday night about the proposed “Map C” currently before the commission.
The map would reshape how voters elect county commissioners.
Residents were outspoken during the meeting.
One resident said, “This district map harms us all. It harms us all by taking away representation.”
Another said, “I think one of the most important parts of maps is district representation.”
A third resident spoke in support of the map, saying, “They had a difficult choice, and I think the map they presented was the best of all the different options they could have had.”
For those unable to attend Tuesday’s meeting, the Board of County Commissioners will hold another public hearing Wednesday at 9 a.m.
In the 2026 county commissioner elections, voters will elect all four seats up for election.
Under the proposal, future elections beginning in 2028 would have residents voting for one seat within their district.
Commissioners have several options moving forward.
Option one is to approve the map or scrap it entirely.
Option two is to refer the proposal to voters.
If commissioners choose to place it on the May ballot, it must be submitted to the county clerk by the end of February.
