Gina works as an affordable housing developer and project manager. She has served as a volunteer member of four City committees. In her community service and work, seeing projects through land use, permitting and construction, she has firsthand experience with how our City operates – and many ideas for how it can become more efficient.
On the Tree Preservation advisory committee, she helped to draft a policy for City Council that balances saving Bend’s iconic trees with land for needed housing. On the Transportation Bond Oversight Committee, she works to bring transparency on spending of Bend’s first major transportation bond in decades and to deliver on the promise to make streets safer for people to walk and bike.
“Gina is the transportation safety champion Bend needs. She’s experienced, honest, and willing to have tough conversations. Join me in supporting Gina Franzosa for Bend City Council. With your support, we will make sure Bend is on the right track.”
Ariel Mendez, Bend City Councilor
Growing up in a small coal mining town in Pennsylvania, Gina witnessed the boom and bust from an industry gone dormant or shipped overseas. Her first jobs were in the family businesses, giving her an understanding of the role small businesses play for not only a strong local economy but also for vibrant neighborhoods.
Before moving to Bend, Gina lived in Portland and became an early leader of the green building movement. Her work helped to transform the building industry there from top to bottom into a force for good. Now, as a project and real estate development manager locally, she leads teams to build net zero energy communities. Gina graduated from Cornell University with degrees in Civil Engineering and from Portland State University with an MBA.
Personally, Gina loves all the things that makes Bend so great. With her partner, Travis (and formerly with her late dog, Dean) she’s regularly out camping at mountain lakes, skiing Mt. Bachelor and taking in as many Bend Film flicks as possible.
