Priorities

  • Lane County’s law enforcement staffing is inadequate. We are one of the least patrolled counties in the nation with as few as only three deputies on patrol at any given time.

    In 2025, a diverse task force of community representatives dedicated hundreds of hours to understanding the state of Lane County Public Safety. That group thoughtfully delivered a message to the Board that the solution first is in prioritization, not new taxes. The committee implored the Board to find efficiencies within the current budget structure, in some cases choosing public safety over other department programs, before implementing new taxes or fees. They also emphasized unanimously the importance of trust and engagement with voters. I believe our roadmap to Public Safety exists in those multi-step recommendations. 

  • People are facing economic challenges right now. Gas prices are high, inflation has been high, and making family budgets work is harder than ever. Finding ways to help people and families with these issues is critical.

    Higher taxes and fees should not be the first solution, especially when people and families are already struggling to manage their household budgets.

    As commissioner, whether its water, garbage, or energy prices I will be your watchdog. I will work to keep our costs low for delivering government services and work with the city and state to deliver services more efficiently to our residents.

  • Nearly 60% of the land in Lane County is federal land. Since the establishment of our county, the federal government and Lane County have had agreements on the management of these lands.

    One specific agreement was The Oregon and California Revested Lands Sustained Yield Management Act of 1937 (commonly called the O&C Act). This act created a relationship between the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and 18 Oregon counties (including Lane) which is best described as a "Mandated Partnership." Unlike most federal land, which is managed for general public use, O&C lands are legally tied to the economic survival of these specific counties.

    This act is what our county government finances are built upon; 75% of the timber sales from this go directly into Lane County’s general fund. The harvest on this land was sustainable, built on a sustainable yield model. For 60 years, Lane County was able to support our sheriffs and District Attorneys' offices; we had great roads and helped pay for infrastructure services, like water, wastewater, and waste management. All this was paid for without taxing our citizens. Much of the timber harvest was put to a halt due to claims of harm to the spotted owl. The funding structure changed from timber sales payments to straight payments from the Secure Rural Schools program starting in 2002. This program was meant to replace the timber sales payments, but by the late 2000s, the payments began getting smaller, and in the following 20 years, some years there was no payment. And our county began massive cuts, leaving the O&C counties to figure out how to get back to obtaining sustainable funding to pay for services that we rely on.

    Today, there is great excitement that the BLM has made a new commitment to sustainably harvesting these O&C lands. These lands will provide tax revenue, jobs, and forest fire prevention for Lane County. This will relieve the responsibility to pay for services from residents back to the federal government, as it should be. As commissioner I will work on this issue diligently because it is imperative to provide the county services East Lane expects from its county government.

  • The State of Oregon sets the laws around land use, while counties are responsible for implementing them. If that is the case, why is Lane County known as one of the worst places in the entire state to develop or use private land?

    It seems like every day brings new stories about the challenges that residents and small businesses face when trying to do anything with the land they own. These endless delays, obstacles, and denials drive up home prices, eliminate opportunities, suppress land values, and ultimately result in lower tax revenue for the county.

    We must implement meaningful reforms and create an atmosphere where citizens and businesses view the county as a partner rather than an adversary.

  • The Lane County Board of Commissioners oversee 3 employees:

    1. The County Administrator

    2. The County Counsel

    3. The County Performance Auditor

    Those 3 employees work directly for the Board of Commissioners and they oversee the county departments, and staff that provide services for our community. Lane County has not had a Performance Auditor in 7 years.

    Here's a much shorter version:

    Lane County’s Performance Auditor is an independent office that conducts objective performance audits of county programs. These audits examine whether services are efficient, effective, and compliant with laws—helping the county stretch taxpayer dollars further.

    Help with the Budget

    - Finds waste, inefficiencies, and cost-saving opportunities.

    - Provides data-driven recommendations for better resource allocation and long-term fiscal health.

    - Supports smarter, evidence-based budgeting decisions by the Board of Commissioners.

    Help with Resident Services

    - Evaluates whether key services (roads, health, mental health, parks, public safety, etc.) are actually delivering results.

    - Recommends improvements to increase quality, access, and accountability.

    - Ensures limited funds go to the most effective programs, protecting the services residents rely on.

    In short, the auditor acts as an independent “watchdog and improvement coach,” promoting transparency, efficiency, and better outcomes for Lane County residents. The office is small but delivers value across the entire county.

    All reports are public on the county website.

  • From the devastation of the Holiday Farm Fire to the heavy smoke of the Cedar Creek event, Lane County understands the steep price of negligence. This vision relies on established techniques that prioritize public safety, forest preservation, and fiscal responsibility.

    Due to wildfire smoke, the Eugene-Springfield metro area is ranked No. 2 nationally for worst short-term particle pollution in the American Lung Association's 2026 'State of the Air' report. This data reflects all of Lane County, and given the massive forest fires occurred in East Lane County.

    In my career I have helped pass legislation at the Oregon Legislature to help our state attack forest fires quickly but our federal partners need to be reminded of the affect they are having on all of us with their practices. As commissioner you can count on me to address these issues.