BEND, OR -- Republican Phil Henderson has thrown his hat in the ring for the Deschutes County Commission seat now held by Alan Unger. Henderson, a Bend home builder and former attorney, says one of his pet issues is creating more affordable housing. “It’s gotten too expensive to live here. And I’m particularly interested in the affordable housing issue and both my background as a home builder and knowing quite a bit about land use law, it’s not just a city issue. It’s something the county can be involved with solving.”
He also plans to focus on water issues during his campaign. “Irrigation companies and entities just got sued by two environmental groups who basically want to shut down farming in Madras over the spotted frog and Alan Unger is supposed to be an expert on the river and he hasn’t done anything to stop that or anticipate that. That’s a real difference between me and Alan Unger is I would do that.”
This is the second time Henderson has run for the position. He ran unsuccessfully in the 2012 primary. Because there is no Republican opposition in this year’s primary, Henderson will face Democrat incumbent Alan Unger in the November general election.
