Businessman Mike Roberts has thrown his hat into the race for Position 4 on the Bend City Council, currently held by Jim Clinton.

Roberts, the owner of Northwest Code Consulting, says he has lots of experience in the public sector and sees what Bend needs to thrive in this economic climate.   "So the biggest thing we need to do it find jobs. Jobs from top to bottom. I'm talking entry level jobs. High school aged kids or college kids that are here, working the summer. They need work as well. And all the way into family jobs. We've lost a lot of business in the last 2-3 years."

Roberts says he'll also put an emphasis on listening, because residents have a lot of concerns and good ideas.

Roberts is married and has one son, a senior at Mountain View High School, and has lived in bend since 1994.

His business, Northwest Code Consulting, helps businesses with deciphering building and municipal codes to help them expand or resolve issues with jurisdictions.