REDMOND, OR -- Five Redmond City Council candidates vying for three openings took part in a forum Tuesday, discussing a lack of childcare, the recent public safety facility bond, Parks and Rec support and homelessness.
Branegan Dixon owns the Redmond Athletic Club and says his experience makes him qualified for the position, “I know little about politics; this is all pretty new to me, so I’m kind of learning as I go. But what I do know is how to run a business. I took a failing business and turned it into a winning one.”
Naval veteran and caregiver Bill Trumble believes his expertise in conflict resolution is an asset, “I have a goal or a vision that Redmond will be where we all want to live 20 years from now.”
Marketing coordinator Kathryn Osborne says she’s learned a lot about how the city operates through her roles on several commissions.
Banker John Nielsen wants to use his experience on the REDI board to help Council.
And realtor Cat Zwicker, the only sitting Councilor running, believes she has more to offer with a full term.
On homelessness, Osborne believes everyone needs to get involved, “Make paths for our houseless neighbors to find safe, comfortable places to live.”
Trumble and current Councilor Cat Zwicker want a bigger focus on transitional housing, “If you take an out of sight out of mind approach, it doesn’t work very well,” said Trumble.
Zwicker added, “The really big part that’s missing is that transitional-space housing, so we need to make sure that we’re also supporting measures to create housing for people that might be at 30-40% of the average median income.”
Dixon wants more planning and communication, “Because this thing is out of control. We need to get ahead of it. Because otherwise, we’re going to end up looking like some other cities.”
And Nielsen believes police need more support, “So that when we have folks that don’t want help and are causing a disturbance, that we can make sure that we’re keeping the community, in general, safe.”
With only one incumbent running and a new Mayor, Council is guaranteed to look different next year. The top three vote-getters in November will take seats on Council in January.
