North Bend City Council members Frank Amatisto, far left, and Janet Rubin, back, laugh with North Bend residents while discussing election petitions. Both council members were collecting signatures to get their names on this fall’s ballot in their bid for re-election. The deadline for candidates to file for city offices in Coos County is Aug. 26.-World Photo by Alex Powers

Half of North Bend’s city council positions, as well as its mayor, is up for re-election, but no one has filed against the four city leaders in the upcoming November election.

City Recorder Angie Kellar said Councilors Frank Amatisto, Howard Graham, Janet Rubin and Mayor Rick Wetherell all plan to join the race to maintain their seats. However, only the mayor has submitted the 50 signatures necessary to run to the county’s elections office. The deadline is Aug. 26.

“All the incumbents filed prospective forms for candidacy. Our charter does require that they gather 50 signatures of registered North Bend voters,” Kellar explained.

Graham said he’ll “probably run” but hasn’t filed yet. He’s served on the council since 1998 and hopes to continue his work to help finish several projects in the city, including a plan to build a boardwalk on North Bend’s waterfront.

“I’m interested in downtown development. It’s always been a contention of the council that it is the first thing visitors see coming into the area,” Graham said. “I’d just like one more term.”

On Tuesday, Amatisto, 72, attended the city’s National Night Out event to gather signatures for his bid for re-election. He said he brought the 58 signatures to the county Wednesday afternoon.

Amatisto began serving his first of two terms in 2000. Prior to that he worked on the North Bend Planning Commission. He’s lived in North Bend for nearly 43 years.

“I like the position, and there’s still things we started that I want to see finished, like the boardwalk,” Amatisto said. “Everything is going well, the city is doing fine. You want to get out of office when things are going  badly, not when they are going well.”

A retiree and silent partner in North Bend Towing, Amatisto said he has time to dedicate to the city.

“I hope I’m doing a good job at city council. I think that’s the most important reason,” Amatisto said.

Also a resident for about 43 years, Wetherell, 65, is preparing to run for his fourth term as mayor. He also has served two as a city councilor, beginning in 1997.

Like his fellow councilors, Wetherell said he wants to keep his seat so he can oversee the completion of several city projects. He also enjoys working with the community.

“I think the big thing is I like to be involved and keep myself active. In city government, you will be involved whether you want to or not,” Wetherell said.

The administrator of Kings-view Christian School, Wetherell said when he first ran for mayor six years ago, he promised continuity and stability among city leadership. At the time, North Bend had been led by five city administrators in six years.

“It was not a positive thing for us,” Wetherell said. “ (Now,) we are about as stable as we have ever been as a city.”

His other goals included helping North Bend maintain its independence, gain a waterfront boardwalk and to improve the downtown area. The boardwalk project is expected to be completed by 2010, the mayor said, and work is being done to the North Bend Hotel to refurbish this “blight” of downtown.

“One of my goals was to make people proud of the city and to take pride in it,” Wetherell said. “I think I have spent a lot of effort and time trying to make that happen.”

Rubin was unavailable for comment before press time.