The Daily Emerald has profiled candidates for four wards in Eugene that will hold contests in Oregon’s May 19 primary elections. Ward 3 encompasses the University of Oregon and surrounding neighborhoods.
Two candidates are running for the ward’s office after councilor Alan Zelenka announced he would not be running as an incumbent after two decades as the ward’s representative. The Emerald reached out to both candidates for interviews with the same set of questions. For candidates that did not respond for an interview, The Emerald used available information from their campaign websites and public history.
Ward 3 candidate John Barofsky did not respond to The Emerald’s request for an interview.
John Barofsky
Hometown: East Grand Rapids, Michigan; resident of Eugene since 1982
Educational Background: Lane County Community College
Occupation Experience:
Eugene Water and Electric Board of Commissioners
Eugene Planning Commission (8 years)
Eugene Budget Committee (7 years)
Affordable Housing Trust Fund Committee
Owner and partner of Beppe & Gianni’s Trattoria
Endorsements:
Congresswoman Val Hoyle
Former Congressman Peter DeFazio
Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce
Lane Professional Firefighters Association
Campaign Website:
johnforeugene.com
Jennifer Smith
Hometown: Southern California; resident of Eugene since the 1970s
Educational Background: South Eugene High School, University of California
Occupation Experience:
President of SEIU 503 Local 085
Los Angeles County Transportation Planner
University of Oregon Labor Education Research
Center Coordinator
Oregon Higher Education Coordinating
Commission
Eugene Permanent Shelter Task Force
Lane Transit District Budget Committee
Endorsements:
Democratic Party of Lane County
Oregon Working Families Party
Eugene City Councilor Eliza Kashinsky
Eugene City Councilor Alan Zelenka
Eugene City Councilor Jennifer Yeh
Former Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy
Former Eugene Mayor Lucy Vinis
Campaign Website:
electjennifersmith.org
Q: What are the biggest issues facing your ward, and Eugene as a whole?
John Barofsky:
Barofsky outlines three main priorities for his campaign: housing stability and affordability, responsible use of public dollars and public safety and quality of life.
“Eugene is facing real challenges — rising costs, growing demands on city services, a shortage of housing supply and a homelessness crisis that reflects deep gaps in how our systems are working. These issues didn’t emerge overnight, and they won’t be solved with simple answers,” the website reads.
When it comes to housing stability and affordability, Barofsky says he supports solutions that increase the housing supply but protect neighborhoods and encourage long-term stability.
“Residents should feel confident that city resources are being managed carefully and right now we’re falling short. Transparency and fiscal responsibility are essential. With my business experience and service on the Budget Committee, I can hit the ground running to be sure Eugene is on
solid financial footing for the long term.”
Jennifer Smith:
In response, Smith thinks of when she and her mother moved to Eugene, back when Eugene “was a place where you could come and just sort of show up and make a life without a big plan and without a big nest egg.”
“It’s not all about paying (your) mortgage or paying (your) car payment. You also should have money left over for enjoyment and for pursuing their endeavors. So that’s ideal to me, is that people aren’t living to work.”
When it comes to housing, Smith believes that residents feel trapped due to the lack of housing options in the city.
“We need to build actually affordable housing, not ‘affordable’ housing, which, that word has been quite slippery in the last few decades. We need more housing density; we need more housing along transit corridors.”
Making strides toward climate recovery is a priority to Smith, as she believes the city hasn’t been keeping up with other communities that are more prepared.
“We made community agreements over and over again (and) we developed as a city the climate recovery ordinance goals, where we would reduce our fossil fuel use by 50% by 2030. We are not on track for that.”
Q: Why do you think you’re best fitted to address those issues?
John Barofsky:
Barofsky’s website points to his decades of experience in the city as a small business owner and a public figure.
“John Barofsky brings decades of real-world experience to public service — as a longtime Eugene resident, civic leader and partner of Beppe and Gianni’s,” his campaign website reads. “His prior civic work has focused on responsible decision-making, long-term planning and making sure public resources are managed carefully and transparently.”
Barofsky has experience in handling budgets, as he spent seven years on the Eugene Budget Committee, and is currently on the EWEB’s board of commissioners. He also is a member of the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Committee, which gives advice to the city on where funding should go and reviews proposals for AHTF projects.
As an owner of a local restaurant for 28 years, Barofsky says he has long term community ties and can bring a “real-world perspective to city policy and decision-making.”
Jennifer Smith:
“I’m a renter and a homeowner… I believe we need more housing desperately; that’s just something that is not really negotiable,” Smith said. “And I’m a biker and a walker. So I care very deeply about the texture of our built environment and neighborhoods of our city. I’m looking at it everyday on very fine-grained detail.”
Smith has served on the Lane Transit District Budget Committee, which she believes has given her good experience in budgeting.
“I also have been involved in budget discussions, very difficult budget discussions. So I feel very comfortable being in tough negotiations that have real-life consequences.”
As president of a union that represents around 1,500 classified workers at UO, Smith believes she has the experience to handle decision-making pressure and to be a leader of a community.
“I have experience in building solidarity and consensus across a wide variety of stakeholders and people who have different perspectives and different life experiences,” Smith said.
