A4 The SpokeSman • TueSday, ocTober 25, 2022
Council
Continued from A1
above). I have been a small business owner, a professor, and an ad-
ministrator frequently asked to mediate conflict resolution. I have
founded community groups and served on state boards.
What is the city of Redmond doing well and
what does it need to improve?
Redmond has done much well, but needs to do better planning
and utilize the existing 20-year plan. We need solutions for the
homelessness and mental health problems, involving transitional
housing. We need more affordable housing, utilizing auxiliary
dwelling units. The city council should hear citizen input and ques-
tions at the start of meetings and allow any city councilor to add
agenda items to the council agenda.
schools, the homeless and veterans. I have been active in the Cham-
ber of Commerce for years and am a graduate of the chamber’s
Leadership Redmond program.
In my role as dad, I have 5 children — 4 of whom live in Red-
mond. Two of my sons are in their 20s and are trying to make lives
for themselves here. My pride and joy are my 7-year-old twins, both
attend public school in Redmond. I have spent most of my life in the
service of others and political party rarely came up. I wish to con-
tinue that service while ensuring my children can make a good life
in the community I love.
What is the city of Redmond doing well and
what does it need to improve?
Age: 45
Neighborhood: Canyon Point
Time in Redmond: 20 years
Work experience: 15 years community banking in credit unions
Family: Married in 2007, five children between us: four boys and
a girl
In Central Oregon, Redmond has set itself apart in quality of life
and as the best place to raise a family. Our parks and downtown area
are second to none and getting better every day. We have provided
the needed support to our police. I am proud to have been on record
in the last election as a supporter of the public safety bond. We are a
business-friendly city that actively promotes growth and innovation
through economic development and a highly skilled population.
Redmond has all the skills and resources to own the future.
Where I do see room to improve is in leadership, we need forward
thinking cooperative leaders that takes responsibility and seek com-
munity input. If the city council does not take steps to deal with
growth and our changing city, we will fall into the same traps that
Bend and so many other cities have done. We have already started
to see how ignoring issues like housing and homelessness have neg-
atively impacted our community. We have seen how passing re-
sponsibility for the homeless crisis to county and state officials have
led to reduced business opportunity, blighted neighborhoods, and a
human caused fire that threatened the city.
We have a highly skilled and dedicated city staff that are ready
and able to deal with the issues we face. Have only require a council
willing to face these issues head-on and work as a team to empower
the people of Redmond to work together to get real results.
Why did you choose to run for a council
seat?
How will you measure the success of the
council during your term?
I am seeking a seat on the Redmond city council because I sup-
port transparent, open, responsible government that is willing the
deal with the issues we face. As Redmond continues to grow, we face
challenges in affordable housing, a growing homelessness crisis, and
ensuring proper planning in transportation and infrastructure that
will meet our needs without forcing an undue burden on taxpayers.
We must also ensure that Redmond continues to be a welcoming
community for families, individuals, and retirees. Council leader-
ship has a responsibility to take these issues head on and look be-
yond partisan divides to find real solutions by working as a team to
ensure Redmond remains exceptional. I believe strongly, that local
government must represent all those that live within its borders and
work to build community bonds.
My view is that effective government means that most folks don’t
need to think about it. Clean water, safe streets, good parks and
no traffic jams. All of these things require a solid team of city staff
working in the background. To achieve this, you need cooperative
leaders and good oversite to direct policy and remove any waste or
abuse. If elected I work to improved communication and cooper-
ation between city councilors and city staff. Seek more transparent
and effective community engagement. In terms of policy, my focus
will be on a reduced homeless population, a sustainable plan includ-
ing safe locations and services for those that remain, and a fully sup-
ported police force to ensure public safety. I would also work toward
an infrastructure plan base on future needs that is flexible and scal-
able to meet the needs of our future.
What in your background gives you the
skills to succeed in this position?
Cat Zwicker
How will you measure the success of the
council during your term?
Success may be measured by financial data, transparency, and
citizen satisfaction with business opportunities, growth in develop-
ment, traffic, safety, housing, and critical services. The true test of
city leadership will be managing the city to remain a great place to
live in the future.
John Nielsen
I have lived in Redmond for 20 years, I am Army veteran, a busi-
nessman and a father. I have worked in community banking for 15
years and am the branch manager for Mid Oregon Credit. I have
seen up close the issues that Redmond families have to contend with
and I have worked to help them solve problems.
I have worked to support local businesses in Redmond as a mem-
ber of the REDI board and up close as a small business loan offi-
cer. As a Rotarian I have worked to support local causes including
Age: 57
Neighborhood of residence: SW Redmond
Time in Redmond: 22 years
Political experience: Vice chair of the Redmond Urban Area
Planning Commission (2018–2021), city councilor (2021-present)
Work experience: Real estate broker, small business owner, retail
buyer
Education: Bachelor’s degree in political science from the Univer-
sity of Georgia, 1987
Family: One daughter who lives in Eugene and attends the Uni-
versity of Oregon and my mother, who lives with me.
Why did you choose to run for a council seat?
As a real estate broker, I work with the community day to day
and see the impacts of growth, both positive and negative. I love
this community and I want to continue to create a place where
we love to live, work and play. Redmond deserves safe, connected
communities, abov minimum wage jobs, affordable workforce
housing and abundant options for childcare and senior services.
Being on city council allows me to support my community and
keep the spirit of Redmond strong, even as we grow.
What in your background gives you the
skills to succeed in this position?
My work in the real estate industry and previous leadership ex-
periences have provided me with an understanding of the necessity
to create solutions that engage and involve all sides. Listening to
the needs of everyone and working to solutions takes the ability to
not only negotiate but to find compromise. I have the willingness
to do the work it takes to understand and communicate the policies
being developed and the ability to look at both the short-term and
long-term implications of a policy, as well as its fiscal impacts.
What is the city of Redmond doing well and
what does it need to improve?
Redmond has been doing well with growth so far. However, the
rapid growth of the past two years has exceeded the metrics of the
2040 comprehensive plan and the housing needs analysis. Infra-
structure and transportation will need our focus in the coming
years to catch up with this rapid growth and have an eye on devel-
opment that sets the stage for continued, sustainable growth. In
that growth, we need to better plan for middle workforce housing
as well as affordable housing for those making less than the median
area income and look to the infrastructure necessary to support it.
How will you measure the success of the
council during your term?
As one person my success will not be as easily measurable as the
participation and accomplishments of the whole. The council sets
goals at the beginning of each session. Identifying these goals and
setting metrics on which we can measure their achievement will be
one of the most important processes to identifying the future suc-
cess of our endeavors. Working together to accomplish these goals
through better community outreach, communication and coopera-
tion will be where I start.
Continued on A5