Bend residents weigh in on whether the city should directly elect its mayor, instead of having city councilors choose their leader from among their ranks.
Amanda Peacher / OPB
Some Bend residents are pushing for changes to the structure of elected city leadership.
A nonprofit called Bend 2030 has been convening forums this fall to explore two big questions: The first asks if Bend voters should directly elect their mayor. Right now, the city's seven elected councilors choose the mayor from their own ranks. The second question is whether city councilors should be elected by neighborhood wards, instead of at large.
Some people argue that the city's elected leaders should come from a variety of neighborhoods. Six out of seven current councilors live on Bend's west side.
Bend resident Janet Whitney says that makes east side residents like her feel unrepresented.
"We've had an 'attitude' for some time," said Whitney. "It just so happens that most of the people who have been on council have been on the west side of Bend. We'd like more equal representation."
Either change would require a modification to the city's charter, which requires a citywide vote. The new city council is expected to take up the matter in the new year.