City Club of Central Oregon to host public forum on County Commissioner expansion, district mapping, and what it means for voters in 2026
Silas Moreau
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The City Club of Central Oregon will host a public forum on March 19th to examine the expansion of the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners and new district mapping. The event, titled “The Deschutes County Commission’s Next Chapter and Your Vote in 2026,” will explore how these structural changes affect upcoming elections.
The discussion focuses on the county’s transition from three to five commissioners and a proposed shift to district-based representation. This transition follows work by the Deschutes County Mapping Advisory Committee to establish new boundaries for the expanded board ahead of the 2026 election cycle.
Judy Stiegler of Central Oregon Community College will moderate the discussion. The panel features Jen Patterson, strategic initiatives manager for Deschutes County and staff lead to the Deschutes County Mapping Advisory Committee. Also joining the panel are Phil Henderson, a former County Commissioner and Committee Member and Melanie Kebler, the Mayor of Bend and a Committee Member.
The forum will outline how the district mapping process unfolded and what voters can expect during the May primary and November general elections. Panelists will discuss how the move to five commissioners could shape the future direction of county leadership. The program aims to provide a nonpartisan overview of the decisions defining the county’s upcoming election cycle.
The event will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Oregon. Tickets for the forum range from $15 to $29 for City Club members and $35 to $49 for non-members. Individuals who find cost to be a barrier can access complimentary registration using the code CivicCO. This accessibility option is supported by grants from the St. Charles Health System and the Pacific Power Foundation.
Forum registrants are invited to submit questions in advance of the March 19 event. Those interested in attending can find more information and register through the City Club of Central Oregon website.