With the May 18 primary election nearing, leading mayoral candidates Nancy Nathanson and Kitty Piercy continue to push for votes, hoping to win the city’s highest post.
Ward 8 City Councilor Nathanson, who has garnered endorsements from supporters such as incumbent Mayor Jim Torrey and the Eugene Chamber Political Action Committee, said her local experience makes her the best candidate for mayor.
Nathanson, a University alumna, served on the Eugene Planning Commission from 1987 to 1993 and has been a city councilor since 1992.
Nathanson expressed concerns about the level of public safety in the city, saying it is a top priority.
“We have a criminal justice system that is not functioning as smoothly as it should as a system,” she said.
Nathanson said she has opposed across-the-board cuts that would affect public safety in Eugene. She also said both prevention and enforcement of public safety issues must be enhanced.
Nathanson said one of her chief priorities is to create trust between top government and community officials.
“What we need is to establish relationships that will weather all problems and issues,” she said.
Nathanson said public safety and property issues in the West University Neighborhood, which is largely made up of renters, are topics that top-level cooperation could help resolve.
“It’s an unstable neighborhood,” she said. “If the city and University could collaborate on a vision for an attractive neighborhood where longer-term residents would be encouraged … we will help to improve the neighborhood.”
Nathanson also emphasized her plans to focus on how the city can foster business development. Businesses are often hindered by local and state regulations and permits, which prevent growth, she said.
“Getting through the bureaucracy is a major hurdle and we’re not helping,” she said.
She said the attention to detail that many permits require may make it hard for small businesses to open.
“For small businesses to be able to understand (the entire permit process) is almost impossible,” she said.
Nathanson also said she supports use of the city’s urban renewal districts.
“What we have in the Riverfront District is a neighborhood in decline and an old, abandoned industrial facility,” she said. “There’s no better place to look to revitalize … for civic pride.”
She said businesses in the renewal districts will continue to pay baseline taxes, and only tax revenue generated by increases in property value will be used, which will help the city.
Nathanson said another of her goals is building citizens’ trust and confidence with their elected officials.
“We have to find a way to improve the way people feel about the civic institution,” she said.
Nathanson said she will address this issue as a consensus builder and problem-solver.
“By listening to all sides, it is possible maybe not to reach consensus, but to reach a solution that the vast majority can feel good about,” Nathanson said.
Although Nathanson said Torrey has been “terrific in bringing attention to schools,” she said advocating for education is not the mayor’s main job.
“Education is vitally important, but I’ll have my hands full dealing with the administration of the city,” she said. “My first focus will be on two key things that the mayor needs to do right now: Economic health and safety.”
Springfield Mayor Sid Leiken said he supports Nathanson for mayor because the pair have had a positive working relationship together in the past. He said mayors of both cities often work together on issues.
“I think her greatest strength is her knowledge and experience in local government,” Leiken said. “From the standpoint and position of mayor, it makes more sense to have someone from local (government).”
Friends of the Eugene Public Library Board Member Pat McDaniels, who lives in Nathanson’s ward, also supports the councilor for mayor. McDaniels said Nathanson has been a strong proponent of the library.
“She’s always supported us and encourages us,” she said.
Lane County Board of Commissioners Chairman Bobby Green said he served with Nathanson as a city councilor.
“What I remember most about Nancy … is that she knew more about local government than most people learn over the course of 10 years,” Green said.
He said Nathanson has a way of keeping dialogue moving in a positive direction.
“She had a way of crystallizing an issue so that it made sense from a process standpoint,” he said.
Former Eugene planner Jim Croteau said he believes Nathanson would be a good mayor because she has a “full mastery” of land-use areas, which are “very complex.”
Croteau commended Nathanson’s work for parks and open spaces as well.
“From being on the inside, I’ve seen her work to keep Eugene a beautiful place,” Croteau said.
Nathanson, who juggles her duties as a city councilor with a career as systems manager for the Orbis Cascade Alliance, said she regrets not having more time to work for community issues.
“Being a city councilor while holding down a full-time job is quite a difficult job,” she said. “Mostly what I regret is that there wasn’t 26 hours in a day.”
Nathanson said she was optimistic about the city.
“I’m just ready to take my dedication to Eugene … to the next level.”