BEND, OR -- Republican Congressional Candidate Lori Chavez-DeRemer was in Bend Wednesday meeting with local business leaders. The former Mayor of Happy Valley is running for the newly re-drawn Fifth Congressional District.

She talked about the need for keeping money coming to build infrastructure, telling the group, "Working with State Government, working with the Federal Government; making sure we can focus on those. That’s where communities thrive. People want to stay there. We have to think about the land-use process. It’s not easy to, and it’s not cheap." She also said she aims to continue funding for area transportation projects. "Your access is very difficult, she said, "And when talking to Congressman Bentz, we know that there was some money dedicated to this area and I want to make sure I can get back there and fight to complete, you know, maybe some of the infrastructure pressures and points that we’re feeling here."

Due to redistricting, Bend and Redmond are now part of the Fifth District. Chavez-Deremer acknowledged it's now a very diverse district, "This is part of this process, is learning Central Oregon, right? Because you know, I’m not from this part of the state and that’s one of the issues. It’s like, 'Lori, what about us?' Well, that’s been the good part of [former] Congressman [Greg] Walden and Congressman [Cliff] Bentz really wanting to school me and give me the tools I need to fight for all of the Fifth District."

Chavez-DeRemer faces Democrat Jamie McLeod Skinner, of Terrebonne, in November.