Morgan Schmidt
Deschutes County Commission, Seat 5
Vote by May 19, 2026
Fierce. Kind. Ready to Get Schmidt Done.
“Deschutes County deserves a leader who will fight for them. I’ll make sure families aren’t priced out of our community, ensure everyone has access to mental health care, and protect our land, water, and tax dollars by holding leaders accountable. I’m running to build a Deschutes County where everyone who lives here is able to thrive here. ”
Priorities
Housing
Housing prices are through the roof in Deschutes County. Our top priority must be to collaborate with city governments to thoughtfully build more housing that supports local businesses, families, and our Central Oregon way of life.
Wildfire Resilience
Our communities face increased wildfire risk every year. We must work together to prepare, mitigate risk, and support the fire professionals who keep our homes safe. Fire is a reality we can’t avoid, but it’s a disaster we can prevent. Morgan has the experience, relationships, and knowledge to lead this effort.
Public Health
The County Commission is the public health authority, tasked with keeping our families safe and well. Morgan will ensure we fully fund our community mental health clinics and school mental health programs, as well as our public health clinics, family support, and environmental health services.
Land & Water
Deschutes County is one of the fastest growing counties in the nation. Our lands and water are critical resources, and the county must align with the integrity and intent of our land use system: planning for affordable, livable cities while preserving the forests, farmland, waters, and open spaces that we love.
Fiscal Responsibility
A growing county has growing needs—we must invest in our future. Taxpayers deserve for their money to be managed carefully, with integrity and transparency. Being fiscally responsible means being fiscally strategic in the longterm, and Morgan is ready to invest wisely to meet our county’s needs.
Homelessness
No one wants people living in tents on the street or in the forest. The only way that continues is if we do nothing. We must take action with data-driven, proven approaches that actually help decrease homelessness and help people get back on their feet. Morgan is already connected with these service providers.
Learn more about how your concerns will be Morgan’s priorities as County Commissioner.
Meet Morgan
Morgan Schmidt grew up in the Chicago suburbs, where Costco meets the cornfields, raised by a tenacious single mom who was also a successful small business owner. As the first person in her family to go to college, Morgan understands what it takes to forge new paths. She moved to Bend in 2015 and now lives in midtown with her 80lb rescue dog, Finn. Morgan is extremely extroverted and jumps at any chance to be with people - she loves dancing (West Coast Swing and line dancing), anything teal, and a good chai… or an Old Fashioned.
Morgan currently serves as the Executive Director for the Red Cross of Central & Eastern Oregon. She deploys regularly as a chaplain for mass casualty natural disaster operations. She spent the past 20 years in public service, reaching out to neighbors and vulnerable populations, building effective working relationships, and coordinating coalitions of stakeholders.
Her career has been dedicated to community building and collaboration as an ordained pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Bend, Founder of Pandemic Partners, Chair of the City of Bend’s Neighborhood Leadership Alliance, Chair of the Homeless Leadership Coalition’s Community Engagement Committee, and Chair of the Presbytery of the Cascades Wildfire Response Committee.
With her lived experience and professional expertise, Morgan has what it takes to lead Deschutes County into a future where everyone in our community can afford to thrive.
