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City of Sisters Councilor {_getChooseLabel(this.selections.length)}

The members of a City Council supervise the city departments, either directly or through a city manager or administrator. City Councilors pass laws, set policy, decide which services will be provided, and develop budgets; they negotiate work contracts and make hiring and firing decisions. A city officer must be a qualified elector under the state constitution who has resided in the city before being elected for a period of time that is specified in the city charter.Sisters City Councilors are elected at large. Voters are asked to vote for a number of candidates equal to the number of open seats. The top 2 vote-getters serve for a 4-year term and the third-place vote-getter serves for a 2-year term. Councilors are elected on a nonpartisan basis. In most cities, the City Councilors are unpaid.

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    Jennifer Letz
    (N)

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    Eli Madrone
    (N)

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    Sarah McDougall
    (N)

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    Cheryl Pellerin
    (N)

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    Joshua Smith
    (N)

Biographical Information

What are the city’s most urgent needs, and how would you address them?

What aspects of the duties of a City Councilor most interest you, and why?

What are the infrastructure needs of the city, and how would you finance the most critical ones?

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Web Site (leave blank if not applicable) http://eliforsisters.com
Your Experience/Qualifications Chair of the City of Sisters Parks Advisory Board (2023-Current), City of Sisters Parks Advisory Board Member, (2021-2023), Local Option Committee (2023), a parent of a Sisters Elementary School child, coach, volunteer, and small business owner.
County Deschutes
Affordable housing is essential to maintain the diverse and vibrant community of Sisters. I will advocate for policies that support the development of affordable housing options for families and individuals. Ensuring everyone has a place to call home strengthens our city’s foundation.

Managed growth is key to preserving the charm and character of Sisters. I am committed to implementing sustainable development practices that balance economic progress with environmental stewardship.

Wildfire preparedness is a top priority for the safety of our residents and the protection of our natural surroundings. I will support initiatives for effective wildfire prevention, emergency response, and community education.
I am looking forward to making connections and facilitating lines of communication across the community to solve our most pressing issues. I'm deeply invested in the well-being and future of Sisters. I bring a wealth of experience and a strong commitment to fostering a thriving, inclusive community that works for us all.
As we grow and possibly expand, the infrastructure needs have to grow with us. We have adequate tax and funding structures in place to make this happen currently, and I will work to make sure our Water, Sewer, and other critical infrastructure remains a top priority with appropriate SDC, Utility, and other rates to fund it.
Town Where You Live Sisters, OR
Your Experience/Qualifications 20 years of Information Technology leadership, focused on listening, complex analysis, problem resolution, collaboration, and communication across stakeholders; City of Sisters: Planning Commission (2023, 2024); Budget Committee (2023, 2024); Parks Advisory Board (2021, 2022)
County OR
Term 4 years
Term Expires 12/31/28
The most urgent need is Affordable and Workforce Housing. There are currently multiple projects working to address this within the city, which are run by Habitat for Humanity, Northwest Housing Alliance and a couple of other organizations. For additional projects, I believe our best chance to influence this will be with negotiations during the annexation phase of our Urban Growth Boundary expansion.

Another large priority is promoting a continued small-town feel with the growth and changes that continue to happen.

Additionally, it is imperative that we address complicated issues through open, respectful discussions. We need to be civil with one another in order to keep a thriving community.
I like working with people to solve difficult problems. I enjoy learning and analyzing on my own but believe that multiple perspectives lead to better and more well-thought-out solutions.
Most of our current infrastructure needs are related to water and waste management. The city already has long term plans on how to finance these projects, including saving funds from prior years and a well thought out loan strategy for the remainder.
Web Site (leave blank if not applicable) http://www.cherylforsisters.com
Town Where You Live Sisters
Your Experience/Qualifications OCCUPATIONAL EXPERIENCE: IT Project Manager, Developer, Small Business Owner GOVERNMENTAL EXPERIENCE: City of Sisters Budget Committee; City of Sisters Urban Forestry Board; Sisters Habitat for Humanity Board Member; Sisters Habitat for Humanity Governance Committee Chair EDUCATION: City of Sisters Civic Leadership Academy; B.S. Computer Information Systems Cal Poly
County Deschutes
Term 2025
Term Expires 2-4 years
Affordable housing is a critical need in our town. I support incentives to encourage builders and non-profits to construct and sell homes at affordable prices for low-to-median income households. I believe economic diversity is essential for our city. I support the designation of land specific to our affordable housing-needs during the Area Planning stage of the Urban Growth Boundary amendment in process and going forward.
Working with residents, city staff and fellow councilors towards a common goal will require teamwork. Collectively working on what is best for the city inspires me. With my Project Manager experience, I'm poised to listen, ask questions, analyze information and assess the impact of the options put before me in order to make effective decisions.
City Council has outlined several infrastructure projects in their goals for FY24/25, e.g. well upgrades, new transmission water main, street improvements. Depending on the project, funding for these projects and other improvements come from a variety of funding. I would prioritize federal/state/local grant money first if available, followed by System Development Charges (SDC) authorized by state statute.
Campaign Phone (public) 7608513859
Town Where You Live Sisters
Your Experience/Qualifications Sisters Business Association - Vice President, Sisters Little League - Baseball Coordinator, SPRD Coach youth athletics
County Deschutes
The city's most pressing needs are a lack of affordable and workforce housing. Though there is not a one solutions fits all approach, I believe we can develop a small community of multi use tiny homes that can house seasonal employees during Summer months to help our small businesses and be converted to Cold weather shelters during winter months.
The City Of Sisters is a very special and unique place. I want to be able to use my voice to support our community. I am looking to be an advocate for our small businesses, our youth, and everyone that call Sisters home.
The City has been doing a good job managing the current infrastructure and updating to make it viable as we continue to grow. There are several projects, especially as it pertains to water that the City has set us up for success in future years. I appreciate that they have been proactive rather than reactive. Sisters is the best small town in America. As such, it's already expensive enough to live here. I want to mitigate any water rate increases or increased taxes. We need to be fiscally sound. This starts with the budgeting process. The current and upcoming projects were funded because of smart decisions by previous City Councils.