BEND, OR -- In a four-to-two vote, Wednesday night, Bend City Councilors appointed Chris Piper to fill the Position Three seat vacated when Sally Russell was elected Mayor. At first, Katherine Austin appeared to have more support. But, after deliberations, Councilors selected Piper, the VP of New Business Development for Ohio-based marketing company Proforma.

 
Mayor Sally Russell was enthusiastic about the choice. "He represents a demographic of people who work in the city of Bend at home, they raise their families, they grow their businesses, they travel all over the United States, they give to their community, they give to veterans, they contribute to schools; they participate actively in our community." She added, "I felt that he had a strong interview." Russell recognized all six candidates were strong in certain areas, but said, "There are a lot of pieces to this puzzle. Each person has a different piece of the puzzle to offer. Whoever sits on this dais has to be good and broad enough to be able to recognize all the pieces of the puzzle because not all those pieces can sit up here in seven places." Piper will serve the remaining two years of Russell’s term. 

Councilors Barb Campbell and Gena Goodman-Campbell voted against Piper’s appointment.