If we want Bend to be a great place to live, we have to make sure we’re a city that truly welcomes all the diverse communities that live here.  I will push for increased inclusion in our local government process, including reaching out to historically marginalized and under served folks who live here but may feel they do not have a voice in City Council decisions. I will listen to people of color when they talk about how they experience racism in Bend, and I will work towards concrete solutions to address racism in our community. 

Everyone, no matter how they get around town, should be able to get around safely. When we encourage Bendites to get out of their cars and travel by bike, by foot, or on transit, we’re helping to ease congestion for those of us who still need to drive a car to get where we’re going. Just building bigger roads will not solve our traffic problems. I will prioritize safety for our most vulnerable users and work to facilitate multi-modal travel when working on transportation system investments.

In order for our city to continue to grow in smart and equitable ways, we have to provide a variety of housing opportunities for middle and low income folks. People that work here should be able to afford to live here and avoid lengthy commutes. Our neighbors experiencing homelessness need a safe place to stay and a city government that actively works on housing solutions for them. I will work to facilitate the building of more affordable housing to address these needs.

There is no greater crisis facing our planet today than the climate crisis. We here in Bend can do our part to tackle this problem, and I’m ready to use the City’s current Climate Action Plan as a starting place to implement smart and effective climate action at the local level. I will work to make Bend a leader in this area so that we continue to protect one of our greatest local resources, the natural environment.  I will approach planning, land use, transportation, housing, and more through the lens of climate change, because our children’s future depends on it.