Creating more housing, including more affordable housing, must remain a top priority for our city. People that work here should be able to live here and avoid lengthy commutes. For those that don’t have a home, we need City leaders that actively work on a broad spectrum of proven solutions while coordinating with the County, State, and Federal government.

Our planet faces no greater crisis today than climate change. Our incredible natural environment here in Bend is important for both our ecosystem and our economy. We must take bold action and work together to change old habits and systems that led us to our current climate crisis. We must also adapt and mitigate the harms that we are facing from wildfire and drought in the coming years.

If we want Bend to be a great place to live, we must create a healthy and safe city that welcomes diversity and works for everyone. Everyone deserves a fair chance to thrive here, including our most vulnerable community members. Our first responders must be supported in their work to save lives in Bend, and we must also recognize the need to respond effectively to those who are suffering from addiction or experiencing a mental health crisis.

Everyone, no matter how they get around town, should be able to get around safely. Our transportation network is the connector that ties together with how we respond to housing, growth, and climate challenges. We can and should create a transportation system in Bend that provides for robust public transit, safe walking and biking, access for the disabled, and connectivity for all.