Meet Rick
For the past two decades, Rick Russell has quietly dedicated himself to serving the people of Central Oregon. His approach to leadership is straightforward: listen first, build strong partnerships, and work with courage and compassion to get things done. At the heart of his work is a simple belief, shaped by raising his own family here: that Deschutes County should remain a welcoming, affordable, and resilient place for everyone.
Rick’s deep connection to community is a family affair, deeply inspired by his wife, Katie. For 14 years, she served with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, leading public health efforts with quiet determination through significant challenges. Her work demonstrated a steady courage and a profound commitment to community well-being that continues to inspire Rick’s own efforts. Together, they are raising their children with these same values, hoping to pass on a community that is even stronger than the one they found.
Professionally, Rick’s focus has always been on practical collaboration. As the Executive Director of Mountain View Community Development, he saw a growing need and focused on building solutions from the ground up. This meant bringing people to the table - local government, service providers, law enforcement, faith groups, and business leaders - to launch a region-wide Safe Parking program that now offers shelter and dignity to hundreds of our neighbors.
It wasn’t about any single person’s effort; it was about the power of a community working together. This same collaborative spirit is now turning into the county’s first permanent supportive housing village, a testament to what can be achieved with persistence and partnership.
His earlier years as a pastor in Madras and Redmond were spent in much the same way: listening, building trust, and helping congregations find their role in supporting their towns. Whether it was helping to start a year-round shelter, supporting immigrant families, or advocating for housing stability, Rick has always believed that progress requires a certain courage to start difficult conversations and the humility to listen and learn from others.
His personal journey through cancer in 2018 gave him a profound appreciation for the strength found in community support and the importance of accessible, compassionate care - something he now pays forward as a volunteer hospice chaplain.
Now, Rick is running for Deschutes County Commission to apply this same thoughtful, collaborative approach to county government. He believes that by focusing on practical solutions, fiscal responsibility, and genuine partnership, we can address our shared challenges - like housing, homelessness, and wildfire preparedness - and ensure that our communities remain vibrant and welcoming for all families, now and in the future.
