Ellie McBride, Pendleton City Councilor

05/27/2026

Congratulations to the class of 2026 🎓🎉

🎓 Graduation weekend is here in Pendleton!

This year’s graduation ceremonies will be held inside the iconic Happy Canyon arena, and we’re excited to welcome students, families, and friends as they celebrate this major milestone!

To help make arrival a little smoother, we’ve included a parking map with designated entrances and parking areas for the weekend’s events. All graduation parking traffic will enter from 18th Street.

Event staff and parking attendants will be on-site throughout the weekend, directing vehicles and helping guests get parked in the correct areas as smoothly and efficiently as possible. There will also be a designated drop-off zone near the arena entrance for guests who may have difficulty walking or need closer access to the venue.

Please plan ahead, allow yourself a little extra time for traffic, and follow event signage once you arrive on-site.

From all of us at Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon, congratulations to the Class of 2026!

05/27/2026

The City of Pendleton's May 2026 newsletter is out!

Find the newsletter online at :

Digital edition: https://canva.link/zyhz90eh3461g7o

PDF: https://www.pendletonor.gov/citymgr/page/city-newsletters

Want to receive the newsletter in your email inbox? Sign up here: https://www.pendletonor.gov/community/page/newsletter-registration

05/27/2026

As a quick reminder to everyone visiting this page:

I run this account voluntarily to provide radical transparency into City Hall and share the 'why' behind my votes. There is a real human on the other side of this screen.

I absolutely welcome robust debate and disagreement on policy! My decisions are based on hard data, staff and committee recommendations, and extensive research, and I know not everyone will always reach the same conclusions. That is exactly how democracy is supposed to work!

However, I am setting a firm boundary for this page: this is a space for productive dialogue about Pendleton's future. Going forward, I will only engage with comments made in good faith. Comments that rely on personal attacks, vulgarity, or tearing others down will be hidden.

Thank you so much to everyone who shows up here to engage constructively and learn about our local government!

05/25/2026

Memorial Day is a heavy day for so many families who are missing loved ones today. My thoughts are with every family in our community carrying that loss.

Wishing Pendleton a peaceful, safe, and reflective Memorial Day 🇺🇸

05/21/2026

Let’s talk about the DOT’s recent decision regarding our airport 🛫

If you saw the news, you know the US Department of Transportation (DOT) has officially chosen Boutique Air as our Essential Air Service provider for the next 4 years, going directly against the City Council’s recommendation to switch to SkyWest Charter.

I want to be completely honest: as a private citizen who lives and travels here, I love Boutique too! Boutique is familiar and has been good to us. But as your City Councilor, my job is to look at the 20-year big picture for our city's financial and economic health. And from that perspective, I am dismayed by the DOT’s decision.

I did not make the decision to vote for SkyWest Charter lightly.

When this first came to the Council, I grilled our airport manager with questions. When he didn't have all the answers I wanted right then, I motioned to table the matter so city staff could go back and get more hard data.

At the next meeting, the committee that made the recommendation to City Council brought back data that was undeniable: moving to larger planes was the right choice. Here is why:

1️⃣ Economic Growth: I hear constantly that Pendleton wants growth, jobs, and industry. Upgrading our air service capacity was a massive, tangible step toward making that happen.
2️⃣ Reliability: Boutique Air has unfortunately closed many of their other operations recently, which I found worrying. AND because the type of planes they use, their fleet struggles with reliability in difficult weather.
3️⃣ Funding & Maintenance: Larger planes mean more "enplanements" (passengers). Hitting specific enplanement numbers unlocks vital federal funding that our airport truly needs to afford ongoing maintenance and that will allow it to be around for decades to come.
4️⃣ Regional Impact: This isn't just the Pendleton Airport. It is the Eastern Oregon Regional Airport and our decisions carry weight for our neighbors, too.

According to our airport manager, this decision follows DOT’s review of all carrier proposals and public comments. Which means that the voice the Pendletonians who really wanted Boutique to stay was heard!

But I also heard from many people who were excited for the change to larger planes and what it would allow them to do for their businesses and their travels.

So there it all is, I promised you radical transparency, and I wanted you to understand exactly why I voted the way I did.

As always, I'm here doing the homework and looking out for the long-term health of Pendleton!

More info: https://www.pendletonor.gov/council/page/pendleton-city-council-tables-decision-essential-air-contract

PENDLETON – Eastern Oregon Regional Airport Manager Dan Bandel announced Monday that the U.S. Department ...Read More

05/21/2026

In Northern Ireland for a bestie’s wedding!

Still have made it to at both Budget Meetings this week (though I’ve had some spotty connection).

Because knowing about how Pendleton’s work is funded is essential as a Councilor for the remainder of the year.

05/21/2026

Following the election OPB reached out for comment from both me and my successor Cody Jones, here’s the article from those interviews:

A political action committee has donated thousands to candidates backed by a group targeting homelessness.

05/21/2026

The Splash Pad at Til Taylor Park will open June 6. This free water feature is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. through September.

More information:

https://www.pendletonor.gov/parksrec/page/til-taylor-splash-pad

https://www.pendletonor.gov/parksrec/page/til-taylor-splash-pad-opens-june-6

05/20/2026

I have poured my soul into this campaign, always striving to be a resource of absolute transparency for the people who love Pendleton!

The people have spoken, and the voters have chosen a new direction.

Please remember that I am still your Ward 2 Councilor through the end of the year. As always, I will be working for you, doing the homework, and keeping my inboxes open and my coffee hours going so I can hear directly from you.

This year, a private interest group spent significantly to elect their own slate of candidates. Time will tell if this newly elected group will be as prepared, accessible, communicative, and independent as the community needs them to be.

Starting next year, you won’t find me at the dais, but you will find me continuing to show up and do the work for Pendleton in whatever way I can!