Photo courtesy of Matt Keating
With election day less than a week away on May 21, the Daily Emerald has profiled both of the city council candidates running in the 2024 Ward 2 election.
Matt Keating
Home state: California
Educational background: San Jose State University, MiraCosta College and Lane Community College
Occupation: Chief of Staff for Senator James Manning
Current position: Incumbent Ward 2 councilmember
Keating prides himself on numerous accomplishments throughout his first term in office, including helping to pass a citywide firework ban after last summer’s wildfires, helping to save the closure of Eugene Fire Station 8 and saving $450,000 of funding for the Greenhill Humane Society.
Through his first term accomplishments, Keating has earned the endorsements of many community leaders and organizations. Keating’s endorsements include the Lane County Firefighter Union 851, former U.S. Representative Peter DeFazio, Mayor Lucy Vinis, Congresswoman Val Hoyle and the Working Families Party.
Lisa Warnes
Home state: California
Educational background: Columbia College, Lane Community College
Occupation: Founder of Lisa Warnes Contracting & Repair, a residential remodeling company
Current position: None
A former Eugene Planning Commission member and a six-year member of the Southeast Neighbors Board, Warnes said she prides herself on her grassroots efforts to improve South Eugene. Warnes’ achievements include helping to establish the Southeast Neighbors Disaster Preparedness Program, protecting 40 acres of forest land from developers and saving over 200 dogs working as the adoption and foster care coordinator at Save the Pets shelter in Eugene.
Warnes has lived in Ward 2 for 44 years since moving from Santa Cruz, Calif.
The Daily Emerald interviewed both Keating and Warnes. The Emerald presented Warnes and Keating with the same list of questions during its interview with the candidates. In randomized order, here is how both candidates responded to questions concerning a few of Eugene’s pressing issues.
How big of a priority is bringing a hospital back to Eugene? Does RiverBend hospital in Springfield suffice?
Keating:
“It takes a village; it’s going to take city, county and state government collaborating to bring the right partner who isn’t going to boondoggle or swindle us [Eugene]. We need a long term hospital that’s going to stay and not not stay under the guise of a nonprofit when they clearly are bankrolling and bankrupting.”
Warnes:
“I can’t stand the thought of RiverBend being the only option. It’s way too far away. I was never happy with any of that in the first place. I thought trying to find a more centrally located place would have been better. I’ve always thought that that location was terrible… so we absolutely need to get a hospital back here for some sort of service. But again, the problem is the corporate medical industry.”
What specific plans do you have for dealing with Eugene’s extensive homelessness crisis?
Warnes:
“As far as homeless goes, that’s a national issue. The city does need to focus on generating truly affordable housing for the lowest income, [and for] residents who need it the most. We can go after grants and subsidies and incentives to generate housing that meets permanent long term affordable criteria. [By] making public investments in affordable housing, we can continue adding the affordable housing stock rather than allowing it to become depleted as units converted into the market rate housing”
Keating:
“[We need] continued investments in organizations like community supported shelters. [Such as the] Nightingale rest stop, and they provide emergency/transitory housing.”
Keating says that “rest stop models” provide substance-free housing for individuals who are working and participating in weekly chores. “Those models of safe sleep rest stop models that are spread throughout Eugene can and should be replicated.”
“I’m gonna continue to support organizations that [provide] community support shelters. I’m gonna continue to applaud and support the work that Nightingale rest stop are doing because it ain’t just about housing. It’s about providing actual services, wraparound services to ensure that people get housing and get stabilized and safe and secure housing and then stay housed.”
What makes you best fit to represent Ward 2?
Keating:
“I’m about to indicate the accomplishments in the realm of affordable housing, protecting Greenhill Humane Society’s funding [and] banning fireworks, Keating said. “All that work has earned me the support of our trusted elected officials.”
Keating has secured endorsements from elected officials including:
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Former Congressman Peter DeFazio
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Congresswoman Val Hoyle
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Mayor Lucy Vinis
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Former Mayor Kitty Piercy
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Councilmembers Randy Groves, Lyndsie Leech, Jennifer Yeh and Alan Zelenka
“They don’t just endorse me because I’m a Democrat. They endorse me because I get stuff done,” Keating said.
Keating says reelection would mean “four more years to fight for more affordable housing investments, with a keen eye for climate action, embracing decarbonization, and reducing our carbon footprint, investing in mental health and behavioral health stabilization centers.”
Warnes:
Warnes expressed her concerns over Keating’s motivation for winning the election and questioned his dedication to the city of Eugene.
“I voted for him and now I regret voting for him because I’ve watched what he’s been up to and in my opinion, he’s making a giant effort to get to some office in Salem or elsewhere,” said Warnes. “He’s not getting back to his constituents. It’s just very evident to me he doesn’t care so I decided I was gonna run because I do care. I’ve been here for 44 years, I fought the good fight.”
Warnes further questioned Keating’s motivation for running for city council. She alleged that Keating moved from the Ward 8 to Ward 2 when there was an opening in the 2020 elections.
“I don’t think Keating really does care. I think that’s part of the machine he’s working in … I’m very much grassroots, he’s not, he’s a very polished political campaigner. I really do care about the citizens and what we’re going to end up doing here and how we are going to manage gentrification, without destroying the people, the backbone of this community, people who have been paying taxes here since you know, the ‘70s,” Warnes said.
In a column published May 9 in the Eugene Weekly, Warnes cited two complaints from 2023 accusing Keating of “racist and repugnant” behavior as well as accusing Keating of being “dismissive of women.”
Keating responded to the accusations in the Weekly, saying, “I take matters of racism and misogyny seriously — as we all have a duty to call out such repugnant behavior. Sadly, my opponent is fanning the flames of a 2022 misunderstanding I had with a fellow city councilor. Since the unfortunate misunderstanding, I have apologized to my colleague; we shook hands and continue to collaborate with congeniality and professionalism.”
Primary elections for the state of Oregon occur on May 21. There will be a runoff election in November if both Keating or Warnes fail to secure 50% of the vote.
[Editor’s Note: Profiles on the Ward 1 candidates will be published later this week. Candidates for Ward 7, Lyndsie Leech and Barbie Walker, did not respond to the Emerald’s requests for an interview. Ward 8 councilmember Randy Groves is running for re-election unopposed.]
