Bend Mayor · Nov 3, 2026
Melanie Kebler
Candidate for Mayor (incumbent)
Melanie Kebler, the incumbent, is running for mayor of Bend in the Nov 3, 2026 election, against Bernadette Strome.
Last day to register to vote · Tue, Oct 13, 2026
Mayor of Bend since 2023 and a Bend city councilor from 2020 to 2022. Former victims' rights attorney with the Oregon Crime Victims Law Center and deputy district attorney in Lincoln and Yamhill counties.
- Endorsed by
- Lists U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, Rep. Janelle Bynum, Secretary of State Tobias Read, state Sen. Anthony Broadman, Reps. Emerson Levy and Jason Kropf, Mayor Pro Tem Megan Perkins, Councilors Steve Platt, Mike Riley, Megan Norris and Ariel Méndez, Bend Firefighters Local 227, Central Oregon YIMBY, Oregon League of Conservation Voters, Sierra Club and Deschutes Democrats, 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
- melaniekebler.com
Where Melanie Kebler stands: positions on the record
Climate pollution fee2 sourced positions
Voted yes on the first reading of the ordinance creating a Climate Pollution Fee on new homes with gas appliances (passed 5-1, June 2026).
Council voteBend City Council meeting minutes, 2026-06-03 · Jun 3, 2026
Voted yes to have staff develop a fee on natural gas appliances set at 20% of the maximum potential fee based on the social cost of carbon (passed 5-1, February 2026).
Council voteBend 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 yes on the first reading of the Emblem Tax Increment Finance Plan for a 264-unit project near High Desert Middle School (passed 5-2, October 2025).
Council voteBend City Council meeting minutes, 2025-10-01 · Oct 1, 2025
Transportation spending1 sourced position
Voted yes to move $400,000 from the street preservation program 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.
Own statementBend City Council work session minutes, 2025-09-10 · Sep 10, 2025
Growth1 sourced position
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
Homelessness1 sourced position
Voted yes on a joint resolution with Deschutes County extending the closure date of the Juniper Ridge Temporary Safe Stay Area to June 30, 2027 (passed 7-0, February 2026).
Council voteBend City Council meeting minutes, 2026-02-18 · Feb 18, 2026
Housing1 sourced position
as reported by Central Oregon Daily
At a Partners for Affordable Housing forum, said Bend needs more construction workers and pointed to apprenticeships and school partnerships.
“We are talking about thousands and thousands of homes being built in Bend in the next years to come, and we need folks to be able to build those homes”
Forum answerCentral Oregon Daily · Sep 23, 2026
Priorities1 sourced position
Says in her pamphlet statement that she is seeking another term to protect the city's progress.
“I’m seeking another term to provide steady leadership in this pivotal moment. We must protect the progress we’ve made, and keep building a city that’s safe, thriving, and more affordable for everyone.”
Past candidacies1 sourced position
official Deschutes County election results
Ran for Mayor of Bend (Position 7) in 2022 (won).
Own statementDeschutes County election results, Nov 8, 2022 General Election · Dec 2, 2022
What Melanie Kebler said vs. how Melanie Kebler 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.
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
Also running for Mayor
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