The Daily Emerald has profiled candidates for four wards in Eugene that are up for the city’s primary election on May 19. Ward 4 encompasses Harlow Road and its surrounding neighborhoods.
Two candidates are running for the ward’s office: incumbent City Councilor Jennifer Yeh, who has represented the ward since 2017, and Tom Stedman.
Jennifer Yeh
Hometown: Medford, OR.
Educational Background: University of Oregon
Occupation Experience:
- Eugene City Councilor, Ward 4
- Budget Committee
- Police Commission
- Intergovernmental Relations Committee
- Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission
- Lane Area Commission on Transportation
- Harlow Neighbors Chairperson
- Co-Executive Director of Lane County History Museum
- Volunteer & Development Coordinator at Community Supported Shelters
Endorsements:
- Eugene Mayor Kaarin Knudson
- Eugene City Councilor Eliza Kashinsky
- Eugene City Councilor Matt Keating
- Eugene City Councilor Lyndsie Leech
- Former Eugene Mayor Lucy Vinis
Campaign Website: https://electjenniferyeh.com/
Tom Stedman
Hometown: Iowa; resident of Eugene since 1978
Educational Background: Lane Community College, Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue Regional Training
Occupation Experience:
- Military service for over three years at Fort Louis
- Army Corps of Engineers
- County Fair Medic
- Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets Medic
- Board member of Cal Young Neighborhood Association
- Member of Eugene Toxic Board
Endorsements: None
Campaign Website: None
The Daily 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 is using available information from their campaign websites and public history.
Q: What are the biggest issues facing your ward, and Eugene as a whole?
Jennifer Yeh:
Councilor Yeh believes everyone in the city and the community views homelessness and housing as the largest issues facing Eugene.
“A concern that is kind of related to that is just overall how we support those in our community who are vulnerable,” Councilor Yeh said. “So our elders and our children, and our folks who are on lower incomes.”
For the years to come, Councilor Yeh expects that the city will have to do serious work on the budget crisis.
“It’s really top of the mind for a lot of people. How are we going to negotiate providing the services that we need with less resources to do that?”
On her campaign website, Councilor Yeh outlines seven different priorities, including affordable housing, homelessness, public safety, transit, education and other issues.
When it comes to affordable housing, Yeh says she has consistently advocated for policies that support affordable housing as a councilor.
“I’ve pushed the Council to fully embrace Oregon’s new zoning laws and middle housing code amendments as tools to address our housing shortage,” her campaign website says. “This includes advocating for budget support for affordable housing projects and championing zoning changes that allow diverse housing options in our neighborhoods, like tiny homes, cottage clusters and 4-plexes.”
Tom Stedman:
Stedman’s priorities focus on the gap left behind by CAHOOTS, the future of the city’s budgets and environmental issues that he believes will impact Eugene imminently.
As a medic for CAHOOTS for seven years, Stedman has recognized the impact the loss of the program has had on Eugene. After speaking with voters, Stedman has concerns about the city’s ability to fill the gaps CAHOOTS left with their recent alternative proposal.
“People believe that they’re going to get the old CAHOOTS back and that’s not going to be the case at all,” Stedman said. “It’s got limited range … There’s no medic, there’s no transport and it’s just going to service 6th, 7th and 99 West 11th and that’s it.”
Stedman also has concerns regarding environmental impacts of data centers and how Eugene can protect itself from other city’s dangerous practices.
“I’m concerned with just these little things that come up, but I don’t think there really is anything to help us protect our water rights to the McKenzie. It’s just something that we need to stay on top of … There’s a lot of little things that are on the periphery of Eugene, but I think they’ll have an impact on us at some point.”
If elected, Stedman hopes to improve communication and collaboration between the city and its public works employees.
“I talked to a lot of the public employees (when) I’d see crews working. From the sounds of it, when they did the budget work, they didn’t actually communicate with any of the public works employees or try to get suggestions from them. How can we improve? How can we save money?”
Q: Why do you think you’re best fitted to address those issues?
Jennifer Yeh:
Councilor Yeh cites her years of experience on the council, as well as her previous time as a neighborhood leader, for her ability to represent her ward.
“I got to spend a lot of time with my neighbors, just understanding what the majority of Ward 4 is, but not the whole thing,” Councilor Yeh said. “So now as a councilor I have learned a lot more about the rest of my ward, but also the city. And I think that experience is going to be really valuable as we’re making these really hard budget decisions.”
Having connections to her community and the city as a whole will greatly help the navigation of the budget crisis, Councilor Yeh said.
“Understanding what’s behind the numbers is really valuable when you’re making these extremely difficult decisions that are impactful to someone,” she said. “Someone is going to lose something that’s valuable to them and is perhaps supporting their life with.”
Tom Stedman:
Stedman moved to Eugene in 1978 and has remained a prominent member of the community since. From his experience, he’s found that residents feel disconnected from people downtown. During his campaign, he’s been speaking with community members from various wards and neighborhoods about what’s facing Eugene.
“I get out and I talk to a lot of people, not just only where I live. When I go to the different neighborhood association meetings, I’m getting feedback from folks. I actually listen and make notes,” Stedman said.
“I know I don’t have the background like what (Yeh) has, but I’ve been following a lot of the police commission meetings, I’ve been following a lot of the city council meetings. I try to stay on top of all that.”
Stedman is currently on the Eugene Toxics Board, giving him firsthand experience in environmental advocacy and communication with the public and businesses.
