Ward 7 candidates answer questions on drugs, homelessness, transportation
Barbie Walker, a candidate in the Nov. 7 runoff election for city councilor representing ward 7 (Whiteaker, Trainsong, River Road, Santa Clara), answered questions from residents at a recent Whiteaker neighborhood association meeting.
The event was planned to feature her and her opponent, interim councilor Lyndsie Leech, but Leech canceled after her children's father had an "emergent situation" and she wasn't able to find someone else to take care of them.
The Register-Guard emailed Leech the questions Walker answered live to give readers an opportunity to compare responses.
As councilor, what would you do about drug dealing within Eugene?
Walker blamed illicit drug sales on Measure 110, the state ballot initiative that reclassified possession of small amounts of drugs as a civil violation.
"I have firsthand seen some of the horrible effects of 110," she said. "It was one of those measures that had the right intentions and not a full plan or full logistics or procedures … What we need to do is work with (Police) Chief (Chris) Skinner, his captains, his sergeant, and start untying their hands."
Walker said she would work with the city manager and city attorneys to find ways the city could interpret Measure 110 language differently, "then we can actually crack down on some of these drug addicts that are actually moving into our state and into our local level because of Measure 110."
Leech also criticized Measure 110.
"Prior to Measure 110, it seemed that often, our only avenue to getting people into treatment was through the criminal system. So by simply decriminalizing drugs without changing and improving the entire system of care, we did not improve the situation," she said.
Leech said the solution is to get more people into supported housing.
"When people are unhoused, they are more vulnerable to self-medication and coping mechanisms to deal with their situation, and are preyed upon by dealers, who should be punished," she said.
What unhoused-serving nonprofits should the city support?
Walker said these nonprofits disproportionately operate in ward 7, and City Council should support nonprofits operating in other wards to both "take a little bit of the burden off” the ward and “meet people where they are.” She cited the examples of the White Bird clinics in Ward 1 and the St. Vincent de Paul Youth House in Ward 2.
"Those are some examples of good stewardship," she said.
Leech highlighted the nonprofits operating the city's safe sleep sites and rest stops.
"I support this work, and the city will continue to fund these programs as much as we are able," she said.
How would you support demand for infrastructure offering ways to travel other than driving?
"Alternative transportation is needed," Walker said.
But said she disagrees with the way City Council and the Land Transit District have proposed doing so, with "the big huge buses and changing the complete infrastructure … along River Road."
Instead, Walker said, she supports working with LTD to switch to a system with smaller buses that provide more stops.
"Is there a design for these smaller buses that can go more routes and take people where they need to go?" she asked.
Leech said "we need to really start thinking of how we expect and want to move around our city in the future." She said this includes "increased and protected bike lanes, safer crossings and better maintenance for sidewalks."
How can City Council put more pressure on the county to do more for housing and mental health?
Walker said if elected she would use her seat as a city councilor to "look at where Lane County is lacking and bring attention to it with the different Lane County commissioners." If they aren't open to doing more to support the city, she said, she would support alternative candidates in the 2024 elections who would.
Walker said she would also look for help from other city councilors to learn "what laws or administrative orders or rules or regulations we have in asking the county to do their job."
Leech said "there is a definite need for the city council and county commission to communicate more effectively." She said the intergovernmental relations committee is a tool the city currently uses to communicate with the state Legislature, and she would like to see that expanded to the county commissioners as well.
If there is a difference between what you personally believe and what the majority of people in ward 7 believe, how would you deal with that?
Walker said she would look at "what are the facts?" She would take the time to research the people arguing an issue and its pros and cons.
"Learn who put you in the seat, what they want and be available," she said. "If you don't have your finger on the pulse of what people want and you aren't available and you're not doing your research, you don't belong in that seat."
Leech said "there is never going to be a time that I will know exactly what the majority of the ward is thinking about the majority of topics." She said she will represent based on both "listening to people and hearing their concerns and doing what I can to help address them" and "my values and the many years that I have spent working with and for my community."
If there’s a conflict between you and the city manager, how would you address that?
Walker said under the current system, the city manager sets the agenda, when in her opinion that should be City Council's job.
"The city manager distributes the information to council as she sees fit. So then that becomes the agenda and is … the only thing you get to research," she said.
Walker said she would try to bring alternative items to the city manager's attention, "continually bringing to the table different motions."
Leech said she "highly respect(s) and appreciate(s) our city manager. … It is also not the role of any one city councilor to tell the city manager what to do or how to do it." She said in her experience, City Manager Sarah Medary has been "very open" to feedback, questions and discussing difficult topics and "how to help me with my own goals for addressing the issues in our ward."
What are your thoughts on the city emergency preparedness plan?
Walker said the plan focuses too much on how the city can coordinate with other governmental organizations, instead of guidance at the neighborhood level for what people can do in an emergency. She also criticized the fact there are only two locations in Eugene designated for people to go in an emergency.
"We're going to be terrified if something happens and it's going to be chaos and mayhem," she said. "The city hasn't put something in place with the community organizations. I feel it is necessary."
Leech said the city should update its emergency alerts system.
"It is not nearly accurate enough," she said, adding that the city should hold simulations of disasters and develop a better joint action plan with Lane County.
Campaign Finance
Both candidates have received more donations since the Register-Guard last reported them, with a similar list of top donors.
Walker
Total: $25,740 in cash contributions, $500 in a loan, $13,328 in non-monetary contributions.
Top donations:
$2,500 cash and $13,328 in non-monetary contributions from the Eugene realtors PAC.
$4,000 cash from Francine Judy, retired senior human resources coordinator at Oregon State University.
$2,000 cash from Divine & Hammer LLC.
$2,000 cash from building industry PAC Oregonians for Affordable Housing.
Leech
Total: $46,114 in cash and $2,877 in non-monetary contributions.
Top Donations:
$9,000 cash from Peter Dragovich, Eugene-based urban planner and climate activist.
$3,500 cash from Claire Syrett, previous ward 7 city councilor.
$2,650 cash and $609 in non-monetary contributions from Patricia Hine, retired Lane Community College instructor and climate activist.
$2,500 cash from Dawn Lesley, candidate for Lane County commissioner.
$2,000 from Theresa Preston-Werner, angel investor.
Alan Torres covers local government for the Register-Guard. He can be reached by email at atorres@registerguard.com or on twitter @alanfryetorres.
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Ward 7 candidates answer questions on drugs, homelessness, transit
