Frank Amatisto

Age: 71

How long here: 45 years

Occupation: Retired

Why should people vote for you? "I want to make a difference."

Experience: He has served on city council for eight years.

Downtown: It's hard to make improvements because it is also a state highway.

Waterfront: Build the boardwalk.

Municipal pool: Go for a bond only if that's what the people want.

LNG: "I still have mixed feelings.""To become closer involved in city government. Give the citizens another choice in selecting three city councilors."

Mike Erbele



Age: 62

How long here: 32 years

Occupation: Owner Lamco Industries

Experience: City councilor in North Bend from 1996 to 1998. City planning commissioner from 1999 to 2008. City budget committee member.

Downtown: Traffic needs to be slowed to 25 mph if possible. Make highway 101 nicer, with planters, curbs extended out at corners, and lights. Encourage local businesses to improve facades.

Waterfront: Stick with the original vision to include a future commercial venture on the CEDCO property. Continue the vision for waterfront access via public or private trails from the casino to Ferry Street Park.

Municipal pool: This bond measure should be looked at very carefully. The improvements would be nice, but an added tax at this time may not be timely.

LNG: The LNG terminal would provide about 50 longterm jobs, with a substantial number of employment during the construction. Not all would be local people, but some would probably be, and the added large short term influx of employment, and the long term increase would add to the local economic well being for the area.

Howard Graham




Age: 56

How long here: 56 years

Occupation: Real estate agent

Experience: City councilor, 1998 to present; North Bend Budget Committee, Coos County Urban Renewal Agency, Coos Bay-North Bend Promotions Committee.

Downtown: The city should implement concepts in the 2006 ODDA study, including slowing traffic on Highway 101, bulb-outs, streetscapes, green areas and parking. The city has pledged up to $500,000, and is seeking a $586,000 grant for the project. It's also expanded the facade program for owners to improve storefronts.

Waterfront: Tying the city's waterfront project to CEDCO's planned mix-use development makes the waterfront project more viable as a community resource. The walkway also would replace the very popular Pony Point Pathway, which was closed by the FAA several years ago.

Municipal pool: "Due to the cost of Phase 2, I think a bond issue is worth exploring. We will have a questionnaire regarding the issue going out in the next city paper. In the meantime, we must still collect donations and explore other money making projects."

LNG: The federal government has siting authority on this issue, "so we don't have much to say on the project. I do think energy sources are very important. I also think that the more energy sources one has at their disposal, the more options and opportunities they provide."

More: "I want to see several projects through that have been initiated by this council and staff. It is also my way of giving back to a community that has been very good to my family."

Janet Rubin



Age: 59

How long here: 37 years

Occupation: Vice president and district manager of Ticor Title Co., 31 years

Experience: She has served on the city council since 2000.

Downtown: North Bend is making progress with the major improvements being made to the North Bend Hotel, the boat ramp, as well as the new boardwalk coming to fruition. The city will have to work with the state to slow down traffic on Highway 101 through downtown.

Waterfront: "...We'll have a first-class project out there."One goal of the boardwalk project, she said, is for it to connect with the one next to The Mill Casino-Hotel and then on to Coos Bay's boardwalk. "I believe beautification projects make people feel good. They create a certain amount of pride."

Municipal pool: Rubin said she would not support a bond to improve the North Bend Municipal Pool, as she believes bond measures should be created for emergencies only. "They're for things you need. Things you have to have," Rubin said. She added that while she wants the pool fixed as much as anybody, she'd prefer this be accomplished through private sources.

LNG: "This is a project I'm not afraid of. And if I was to vote yes or no I think I would be in favor of this project. But, I still think it is very important that I continue to listen and read everything I can regarding the project and it is still my responsibility to listen to all sides of the issue. The bottom line is the North Bend council has virtually no control over this."

More: "A number of projects are in the works and I certainly would like to see them through. ... I feel we just need to be there to give support to the staff, work with the public, listen to the public and share ideas and goals."