Pendleton City Council at large candidate Kristin Hudson-Bonniot, left, introduces herself at a candidates forum April 9, 2024, at the Pendleton Center for the Arts.

PENDLETON — Candidates for Pendleton City Council gave the public a chance to get to know them and their stances April 9 during a public forum.

The Umatilla County Board of Realtors held the event in Pendleton Center for the Arts, featuring city council and mayoral candidates. About 50 people attended.

Contested races

Ward 1: John Thomas and Barbara Wright are running to succeed Kevin Martin in representing Ward 1.

Thomas is a mental health professional who has a master’s degree in social work from Walla Walla University and now works in private practice as well as with the Oregon Youth Authority. He has served on the Umatilla County Special Library District Board of Directors.

Wright is a merchandiser and salesperson with Premium Retail Services. She studied journalism at Blue Mountain Community College and Linfield University, then Linfield College, and graduated in 1976.

Ward 3: Brett Mulvihill and Alicia Reynen are running to succeed Dale Primmer for Ward 3.

Mulvihill holds a degree in business administration and is retired from his career as a small business owner, though he does now own — and recently reopened — Brett’s Books, the bookstore on South Main Street.

Alicia Reynen did not attend the forum due to sickness and instead sent answers via moderator Jerry Baker. Reynen is an Uber driver and former senior caregiver who attended BMCC, where she received her General Education Development diploma.

At large: Incumbent Steve Campbell faces a challenge from Kristine Hudson-Bonniot.

Campbell retired from his position as vice president and senior relationship manager with Banner Bank in January after about four decades in commercial banking. He has been on the council since 2020.

Hudson-Bonniot works with the InterMountain Education Service District as an autism specialist. She has been involved with the city as a part of the Jump Start Committee.

On homelessness

Thomas said many of the solutions to solve the growing challenge of homelessness in the city must come from a higher level of government but he hopes to work with local partners to build a program such as Stepping Stones in Hermiston.

“My first thought is: When I see the houseless I see broken humans who society is leaving behind,” he said. “As a city councilor, I would work with fellow Councilor Carol Innes and find human solutions to this human problem. … If I’m your city councilor, you’re going to have a social worker on the city council.”

Wright, Thomas’ opponent, suggested reopening a state mental hospital in Pendleton to support people with addictions or mental health and cognitive problems.

Campbell discussed tiny houses or pods as possible options for meeting people’s basic housing needs, at least as a first step for providing support. His opponent, Hudson-Bonniot, said she has been surprised by the amount of homelessness in Pendleton and the community must work together to find solutions.

Mulvihill said he wants to look at what other cities are doing to see what’s working. His opponent, Reynen, said she wants to “offer a hand up instead of a hand out” and connect homeless people to resources that they need.

Prioritizing the city’s goals

The city council has four goals: increasing housing availability, developing sustainable infrastructure, increasing economic development and improving communication between the community and the city.

Mulvihill said the economic development drives the other goals.

“Nothing matters unless there’s vibrant economic activity and growth in a town,” he said.

Thomas and Wright said the four goals are intertwined. Hudson-Bonniot and Reynen focused on communication, and Campbell said housing is the “greatest shortage in this town” and is necessary to address any of the other goals.

No senior center

Thomas said he’s sad there’s no longer a senior center and would love to see one again. He mentioned the role of commissions in getting things done for the city.

Wright talked about grant writing and how finding creative ways to get money for a senior center could be critical.

Mulvihill said he would also support a senior center, especially since neighboring cities do. He added he’s “been shocked by the lack of attendance” at council meetings, and told the public to attend them.

“I did not know there wasn’t a senior center, and that’s something if I had gone to city council meetings, I may have learned,” Hudson-Bonniot said. “If I learned nothing in the past three or four years, and we all should think about it, we should be attending city council meetings more.”

The candidates reminded the audience that participating in shaping the future of the city doesn’t just happen at the polls, it happens in the everyday actions of the people who show up.

Forum features Senate District 29 candidates in Milton-Freewater

MILTON-FREEWATER — The Republican Women of Milton-Freewater is hosting a forum featuring Oregon Senate District 29 candidates.

Candidates will answer questions Wednesday, April 17, 6 p.m. at the Milton-Freewater Community Building, 109 NE Fifth St. If time allows, questions will be taken from the audience. In addition, a meet-and-greet follows the forum.

For more information, contact Marlene McClintock at 541-215-0011 or republicanwomen.miltonfreewater@gmail.com.