Bend City Council Position 5 · Nov 3, 2026
Ariel Méndez
Candidate for City Council Position 5 (incumbent)
Ariel Méndez, the incumbent, is running for Bend City Council Position 5 in the Nov 3, 2026 election, unopposed.
Last day to register to vote · Tue, Oct 13, 2026
Bend city councilor in Position 5, first elected in 2022, and associated faculty at OSU-Cascades. Former director of the Bend Park and Recreation District and chair of the Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization.
- Endorsed by
- Lists Deschutes Democrats, Sierra Club, North Coast States Carpenters Union, state Sen. Anthony Broadman, Reps. Emerson Levy and Jason Kropf, Mayor Melanie Kebler and Councilors Gina Franzosa, Megan Perkins, Steve Platt, Megan Norris and Mike Riley, among others. Deschutes County Voters' Pamphlet, Nov 3, 2026 General Election (City of Bend statements, pp. 9-43 to 9-44) · Sep 14, 2026
- Campaign website
- www.arielforbend.com
Positions 5 and 6 are uncontested: Ariel Méndez is the only candidate for Position 5 and Elana Reinholtz the only candidate for Position 6. The Source Weekly · Aug 25, 2026
Where Ariel Méndez stands: positions on the record
Climate pollution fee2 sourced positions
Voted yes on adopting the Climate Pollution Fee ordinance on second reading (passed 4-1, June 2026).
Council voteBend City Council meeting minutes, 2026-06-17 · Jun 17, 2026
as summarized in official council minutes; not a direct quote
Said he had concerns about affordability and grid reliability but would support a fee at 20% of the maximum because he felt it would be effective.
Own statementBend City Council meeting minutes, 2026-02-18 · Feb 18, 2026
Housing incentives2 sourced positions
Voted yes to have staff draft tax increment finance areas for four multiunit housing projects, including Britta Ridge, that guarantee some units affordable at or below 90% of area median wages (passed 6-1, February 2025).
Council voteBend City Council meeting minutes, 2025-02-19 · Feb 19, 2025
Voted no on the first reading of the Emblem Tax Increment Finance Plan, saying tax increment financing might not be the right tool for that project (passed 5-2, October 2025).
Council voteBend City Council meeting minutes, 2025-10-01 · Oct 1, 2025
Transportation spending1 sourced position
Moved and voted yes to move $400,000 from street preservation to pedestrian and bike safety programs (passed 6-1, June 2025).
Council voteBend City Council meeting minutes, 2025-06-18 · Jun 18, 2025
Transportation fee2 sourced positions
Voted yes to set rates for Phase 2 of the Transportation Fee, effective July 1, 2025 (passed 7-0, May 2025).
Council voteBend City Council meeting minutes, 2025-05-07 · May 7, 2025
council consensus recorded in work session minutes; no formal vote was taken
Was part of the council's unanimous support in September 2025 to pause Phase 3 of the Transportation Fee indefinitely; he suggested visitor parking fees and a seasonal gas tax as alternatives.
Own statementBend City Council work session minutes, 2025-09-10 · Sep 10, 2025
Neighborhood housing1 sourced position
as reported by Central Oregon Daily
At a Partners for Affordable Housing forum, said zoning should allow more types of housing and spread growth across the city.
“I don't think that any particular neighborhood should have to bear the brunt of all the change, but no neighborhood should be immune to change”
Forum answerCentral Oregon Daily · Sep 23, 2026
Growth2 sourced positions
Voted yes on the first reading to annex 265.7 acres in the Stevens Road Tract urban growth boundary expansion area (passed 4-1, April 2026).
Council voteBend City Council meeting minutes, 2026-04-01 · Apr 1, 2026
Says in his pamphlet statement that Bend can manage how it grows.
“We can’t stop growth, but we can manage how we grow so that we keep the things we love so much about Bend.”
Homelessness1 sourced position
Says the best way to reduce homelessness is affordable housing and shelter, with support services and reasonable camping rules.
“The best way to reduce homelessness is to provide affordable housing and options for shelter.”
Own statementAriel Méndez campaign website
Past candidacies1 sourced position
official Deschutes County election results
Ran for Bend City Council Position 5 in 2022 (won).
Own statementDeschutes County election results, Nov 8, 2022 General Election · Dec 2, 2022
What Ariel Méndez said vs. how Ariel Méndez voted
Transportation fee
In their words
Was part of the council's unanimous support in September 2025 to pause Phase 3 of the Transportation Fee indefinitely; he suggested visitor parking fees and a seasonal gas tax as alternatives.
Sep 10, 2025 ·council consensus recorded in work session minutes; no formal vote was taken ·Bend City Council work session minutes, 2025-09-10 · Sep 10, 2025
On the record
Voted yes to set rates for Phase 2 of the Transportation Fee, effective July 1, 2025 (passed 7-0, May 2025).
May 7, 2025 ·Bend City Council meeting minutes, 2025-05-07 · May 7, 2025
Growth
In their words
Says in his pamphlet statement that Bend can manage how it grows.
Sep 14, 2026 ·Deschutes County Voters' Pamphlet, Nov 3, 2026 General Election (City of Bend statements, pp. 9-43 to 9-44) · Sep 14, 2026
On the record
Voted yes on the first reading to annex 265.7 acres in the Stevens Road Tract urban growth boundary expansion area (passed 4-1, April 2026).
Apr 1, 2026 ·Bend City Council meeting minutes, 2026-04-01 · Apr 1, 2026
Also running for City Council Position 5
No one else is running for this seat.
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