Published 7:59 am Thursday, October 22, 2026

Leitz for judge

Hey friends!

My name is Laila Hassaninia, and I was lucky enough to be born and raised in Bend during a time when it seemed everyone knew each other by name.

I met the Leitz family in third grade at Bear Creek Elementary, and we grew up together in the pews on Sundays at the base of Pilot Butte. I became best friends with Keith’s younger sister, and Keith was the cool, older, always-wiser big brother. The Leitz family became my second family, providing the kind of love and guidance every teenager needs.

Even as a young man, Keith was steady, thoughtful, and wise beyond his years. He has carried those qualities into adulthood, through military service as an explosive ordnance disposal specialist, helicopter engineer, and JAG officer, while remaining deeply rooted in Central Oregon.

One story perfectly captures who Keith is. A friend once shared that, as a struggling single mom, she confided that her cupboards were empty.…