Bend City Councilor Ariel Mndez (D) Launches Re-election Campaign
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Bend City Councilor Ariel Méndez launched his re-election campaign today, June 29th, 2026, for position 5 on the Bend City Council. Méndez is seeking a second term to continue his work towards a safer and more connected future for Bend, Oregon.
Méndez has served on the City Council since 2023, representing position 5. He is an associate faculty member in political science at OSU-Cascades. Méndez expressed that while progress has been made during his first term, there is still work ahead. “We’ve accomplished a lot,” Méndez said. “But there’s more work to be done.”
Méndez recalled his campaign vision from four years ago, emphasizing the development of local amenities and safe routes to school for children. "Four years ago, I campaigned on a vision of a Bend where every neighborhood has a park or other amenity nearby and every child can get to school safely. Today, that vision is being built on our streets,” Méndez said.
At Bear Creek Elementary School, where Méndez’s children attended, a crossing guard noted a 400% increase in students arriving on foot or by bike over the past several years. Méndez highlighted this as a model for other schools. "That's the kind of progress I want to see at all of our schools," Méndez said. "Every one of those kids arrives ready to learn, and the community benefits from less traffic and cleaner air."
https://ktvz.com/news/election/2026/06/29/decision-2026-bend-city-councilor-ariel-mendez-launches-re-election-campaign/