BEND, OR -- Another lawsuit has been filed against the city of Bend regarding the election of Casey Roats to the city council. Opponents claim Roats was not a resident of the city the year before the election, as required by the city charter, and therefore isn't eligible to serve on the city council. This latest lawsuit is being brought by Foster Fell, partner of new City Councilor Barb Campbell, and his attorney Charlie Ringo, who supported Roats' opponent.
The former city council voted on the residency issue last month and decided Roats did meet requirements, as did the Secretary of State's office. Fell is asking for a circuit court judge or the new city council to vote on the matter. A new vote could have a different result, since three of the votes for Roats are no longer on the council.
KBND News spoke with Gary Firestone, Assistant City Attorney. He says the city of Bend has 30 days to decide how to respond.
