2024 Eugene City Council Elections: Three contested seats in Tuesday's election

Half of the Eugene city council seats are up for election on Tuesday. In Ward 1, councilor Emily Semple is retiring and three candidates are running to replace her. In Ward 2 and Ward 7 the incumbent councilors each face a challenger. In Ward 8, incumbent councilor Randy Groves is running uncontested.

Ward 1

Ethan Clevenger

Clevenger described his policy views as generally aligned with current city councilors, "but what I think the City Council sometimes lacks is a certain level of pragmatism," that the small business owner aims to add.

"My difference is … going to be going to be more in the leadership philosophy side of it than it is on the policy side," he told the Register-Guard. "We have to be dynamic and responsive to our entire community."

For example, Clevenger contrasted the city's attempted natural gas ban on new homes and its middle housing ordinance. With the gas ban, "the community was not broadly on board" and he felt the city council should have instead looked for more popular ways to reduce emissions. With middle housing, Clevenger felt that reform was opposed by a vocal minority. "That's what I feel like maybe we did the work."

Ted Coopman

"Our campaign theme is leadership for a change," the neighborhood leader told the Register-Guard. "Eugene city government needs a course correction in terms of its trajectory."

This includes "doing fewer things better" and working to get a better return on investment. He gave mental health as an example that's the role of the county rather than the city. And he promoted a greater focus on the short term. "We have to build for the long term, but we have to look at what we can do immediately," he said.

Coopman cited climate as an example, he criticized the natural gas ban and said a better path would be expanding Home For Good's weatherization grant program, which would be paid for with a small fee on natural gas consumption to bring it in line with electricity. "It incentivizes people to transition out of natural gas … and improve(s) the rental and home inventory."

Eliza Kashinsky

Kashinsky highlighted her work with city leadership on the budget committee and in housing and zoning advocacy. "I have an in-depth knowledge of the way the city works," the human resources manager told the Register-Guard. "I'm going to be able to come in from day one and be able to hit the ground running."

In 2020 Kashinsky lost the city council race against Semple, but she expressed optimism for her chances in 2024 where there's no incumbent and because her housing background has risen in importance for voters. "(The housing shortage) felt a lot less acute, I think, than it does right now," she said.

"They're doing okay," Kashinsky said when asked for her view on the current city council. "There are things that are not moving as fast as they should be," she said, citing the city's process towards allowing accessory dwelling units as an example.

Ward 2

Matt Keating

Keating highlighted achievements from his first term including banning fireworks, maintaining Greenhill Humane Society's funding, as well as investments in fire, mental health, affordable housing and traffic calming as reasons for voters to give him a second term.

Keating described himself as "progressive and pragmatic" and as an example of this cited his support for the city's camping restrictions while simultaneously working to stabilize funding for Community Supported Shelters. "That was an example of compromise," he said.

One priority Keating shared was redefining the federal definition of emergency shelter. "It's unconscionable that the transitionary housing that we see at Nightingale and Safe Sleep Sites and rest up shelter community don't meet the federal definition of emergency housing," he said, which makes it harder for those programs to get grants. Keating made the case that he has the state and federal connections to push for this change.

Lisa Warnes

Warnes told the Register-Guard she objects to how Keating spends his time, saying it lacks a local focus. "I don't see that the time he's spending on James Manning's campaign is helping Ward 2 constituents," she said. "He's always talking about his Democratic endorsers at the state and federal level. And I'm questioning how is that pertinent to Ward 2?"

Warnes voiced concern over the state mandates that cities allow middle housing in single-family zones and direct cities to not require developers to provide parking. On middle housing, Warnes objected to Keating's votes in favor of Eugene's implementation. On parking reform, Keating voted against implementation but Warnes implied the state rules coming still undercut Keating's argument that his state government connections are a strength.

Warnes also objects to the city's tax exemptions to encourage development. "It's taking desperately needed funds away," she said.

Ward 7

Lyndsie Leech

"I bring a lot of diverse perspectives to the council," Leech told the Register-Guard. With re-election, "I can continue to be that voice for the vulnerable."

Leech highlighted stances against the city council’s camping restrictions. "That's not helping. It's pushing people around more," she said. In April Leech moved against stricter car camping rules. Councilors outvoted her but agreed to discuss "a program that provides resources, in addition to or in lieu of parking citations, to individuals living in their vehicles."

"That's a much more compassionate response," Leech said.

When councilors repealed the gas ban, Leech moved to discuss how to "reduce the use of fossil fuels in new construction," and declined to rule out reconsidering a ban. That’s tentatively scheduled for July 17.

“It's probably not appropriate to do an outright ban, but I didn't want to limit our ability to talk about this issue,” Leech said.

Barbie Walker

Walker lost last year's special election against Leech, but in her campaign letter, she expressed optimism about her chances in a regular election year when turnout is higher.

Walker "knows budgets, trouble shooting, researching and hard work ethic," from her business experience, she wrote. And she highlighted her work developing the 15th Night Program to address youth homelessness.

The first point she criticized Leech for was what she described as Leech’s “motion to bring back the Natural Gas Ban to the council table.” Walker said instead she supports incentives for weatherization and grants for sustainable energy. "Not a ban without a plan."

On housing, Walker said she supports “incentivizing the market thoughtfully, skillfully with advantageous conditions for investors.” She criticized the council's approval and tax incentive for 1059 Willamette “The complex is suited for studios, 1 bedroom and doesn’t incorporate prevailing wages,” she said.

Alan Torres covers local government for the Register-Guard. He can be reached over email at atorres@registerguard.com or on X @alanfryetorres.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Half of Eugene City Council seats up for election Tuesday