We are convinced either Chris Piper or Melanie Kebler would make an excellent mayor for Bend. The ÅÝֱܽ²¥â€™s editorial board is endorsing Piper. We believe that will be better for Bend.
Frankly it’s in part because if he wins, we can get them both. Piper would be mayor. Kebler could continue to serve out her term as a councilor.
If Piper wins, we believe the council would have better overall representation of the city. Right now, it seems the current councilors come at the city’s challenges with much the same perspective on solutions. We don’t have a simple way to show that on an ideological measuring stick. If we had to place Piper and Kebler and the other members of the council on that stick, though, Kebler and the other current councilors would be to the left of Piper.
We don’t think Piper’s election as mayor, nor Kebler’s, will mean a profound shift in the city’s direction. The city has limited tools and limited money.
The position of mayor in Bend is not a position of great power. It has marginally more power than other councilors in that the mayor runs meetings, has some control over what’s on the agenda and may speak for the city.
Any important decision requires the mayor to find three others on the council to support it. The mayor doesn’t run the city. The city manager does.
Still, with Piper as mayor, we believe there will be more representation of more perspectives in city government. That’s better for Bend.
One impression we have is a difference in how the two candidates look at government. They both look at government as a way to help solve problems.
But Piper looks at it with more suspicion than Kebler. That is not to say Kebler believes government has all the answers.
We don’t think there is an argument that one or the other would lead, listen or be more transparent than the other.
We don’t think there is an argument that one or the other has a background that makes them a better fit. Kebler might have an edge there because she grew up in Bend. But Piper has lived here nearly 20 years.
He has worked in business. She has worked in law.
He has been on the council, helped lead the Family Kitchen, the Downtown Bend Business Association and the council on aging. She has been on the council, worked as a prosecutor and as an advocate for victims’ rights.
We do expect serious consideration of expansion of Bend’s transit system if either of them is elected. Both have talked about that and the possible need to set up a separate transit district.
On some of the other issues facing Bend, such as housing affordability, homelessness, other transportation issues, public safety and so on, we would expect a vote for Kebler would mean the city would be more likely to continue in a similar policy direction that it is now.
On land use and development, Piper believes the state should change land use policies and look to make development easier. Kebler is interested in a change to state law on housing regarding middle income tax exemptions to make that more flexible.
But we would put money on Piper being more in favor of reducing state restrictions on land use than Kebler.
Whatever you think, please vote. We don’t think Bend will lose no matter who wins.
Gee libs, examine someone who doesn't think and walk like you. I'm astounded by your inability to debate other ideas other than your own. Waddle off as a mindless group and vote in lockstep with your other minnons.
Will we never get a journalistic investigation into the injection of dark money into local groups intent on undermining civic society?
Moms for Liberty, for one, carried on a months-long campaign of disruption against our school board--threatening elected officials while trumpeting the latest conspiracies from extremist think tanks.
And, then, there’s Bend Humanity Coalition with its shadowy phalanx of donors and operating from a script provided by conflict-inventor Christopher Rufo, whose screed against unhoused people ended up in the hands of at least one elected official.
As expected, Bend City Council took its turn as the target of rancorous opposition for its efforts to find truly humanitarian solutions. However, the often hateful rhetoric spewed at Council meetings was, thankfully, just that.
Kids Not Camps failed to gather enough signatures to place a ballot measure on the November ballot that would have stopped the City from engaging in any project to aid the homeless. It would even have prevented construction of the successful Central Oregon Veterans Village.
Chris Piper, himself, got caught up in the stridency. He was spotted in the crowd that mysteriously turned out to confront a Bend City Councilor at Drake Park last year. She had invited what she thought would be a small group of citizens to informally discuss the homelessness crisis. Why was he there and why did he not act like a gentleman and a leader and quell the crowd?
I think the focus here on state level rules and regulations that the mayor has no power over is a bit odd. Why aren't we focusing on what they can deregulate locally to spur housing production? Councilor Kebler has provided some specifics on that, and done good work on the bipartisan HB2001 bill's local implementation.
Piper is the head of the neighborhood association who issues you a citation for leaving your trash cans out for more than 24hours - citing its effect on his property value and 'neighborhood character.' He would make a great mayor of Sunriver or Tetherow HOA president. He does not understand city issues, housing, transportation like Kebler. Vote Kebler, she is wicked smart, not afraid to tackle tough issues (even if they are politically challenging), and is a genuine person who cares deeply about this community.
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(6) comments
Gee libs, examine someone who doesn't think and walk like you. I'm astounded by your inability to debate other ideas other than your own. Waddle off as a mindless group and vote in lockstep with your other minnons.
What about Piper makes you eager to vote for him?
Will we never get a journalistic investigation into the injection of dark money into local groups intent on undermining civic society?
Moms for Liberty, for one, carried on a months-long campaign of disruption against our school board--threatening elected officials while trumpeting the latest conspiracies from extremist think tanks.
And, then, there’s Bend Humanity Coalition with its shadowy phalanx of donors and operating from a script provided by conflict-inventor Christopher Rufo, whose screed against unhoused people ended up in the hands of at least one elected official.
As expected, Bend City Council took its turn as the target of rancorous opposition for its efforts to find truly humanitarian solutions. However, the often hateful rhetoric spewed at Council meetings was, thankfully, just that.
Kids Not Camps failed to gather enough signatures to place a ballot measure on the November ballot that would have stopped the City from engaging in any project to aid the homeless. It would even have prevented construction of the successful Central Oregon Veterans Village.
Chris Piper, himself, got caught up in the stridency. He was spotted in the crowd that mysteriously turned out to confront a Bend City Councilor at Drake Park last year. She had invited what she thought would be a small group of citizens to informally discuss the homelessness crisis. Why was he there and why did he not act like a gentleman and a leader and quell the crowd?
I think the focus here on state level rules and regulations that the mayor has no power over is a bit odd. Why aren't we focusing on what they can deregulate locally to spur housing production? Councilor Kebler has provided some specifics on that, and done good work on the bipartisan HB2001 bill's local implementation.
Piper is the head of the neighborhood association who issues you a citation for leaving your trash cans out for more than 24hours - citing its effect on his property value and 'neighborhood character.' He would make a great mayor of Sunriver or Tetherow HOA president. He does not understand city issues, housing, transportation like Kebler. Vote Kebler, she is wicked smart, not afraid to tackle tough issues (even if they are politically challenging), and is a genuine person who cares deeply about this community.
'He would make a great mayor of Sunriver or Tetherow HOA president.'
OMG. To good.
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Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.