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Devon Lawson
Zone 3
Age: 18
Brief biography: I’m a first-generation college student, Lane County resident, and policy advocate who’s worked on over 30 campaigns and helped shape legislation at the State Capitol. I’m running to make sure LCC is affordable, inclusive, and accountable, because every student deserves a real chance at a better future.
Current employment: Restaurant manager.
Connection to Lane Community College: My connection to Lane Community College goes way back. When I was a little kid, I’d cheer on my Aunt Gabby at her LCC track meets. Those were some of my earliest memories of pride and community. Today, Gabby serves as a recruiter in the Idaho Army National Guard, and she credits Lane with giving her the foundation she needed. For my family, LCC has always been a place of opportunity and second chances. That’s why I’m running to protect that promise for every veteran returning to the classroom, every single mom working toward a better life, and every student wondering if college is for them. Lane changed my family’s life. Now, I want to fight for the families that come next.
Why are you running? I’m running because our students and staff deserve better. When a seat on the LCC board became vacant, the community called for a fair, transparent appointment. But Julie Weismann, the very person who was herself appointed to the board, refused to vote to fill the seat. Then she walked out of the meeting, leaving the board deadlocked and our college stuck. Later, she promised the Democratic Party of Lane County she would never do that again … and then did it again anyway. That’s not leadership. That’s not accountability. I’m running because I believe public education is worth fighting for, and I know what it’s like to have to fight for it. I’m the first in my immediate family to go to college. I’ve spent years testifying on education policy in the legislature, serving on oversight committees, and organizing for students, because this isn’t a stepping stone for me. It’s personal. I’ll show up, do the work, and stand up to any board member or college president who undermines the public’s voice. I’ll fight for a fully funded DEI office, protections from ICE, transparency, affordability, and a board that actually governs … not rubber stamps. I’m running because this college belongs to the people. We need to take it back. Our community knows that too. That’s why State Rep. John Lively endorsed me. That’s why the faculty union and classified staff union at LCC endorsed me, and the same goes for the Oregon Education Association.
Priorities: If elected, my top priorities are centered on making LCC more affordable, more accountable, and more protective of the people it serves. I will fight to expand financial aid outreach and explore policies like a tuition waiver for low-income Lane County residents, because no student — veteran, working parent, or first-generation — should be priced out of an education. I’ll work to restore public trust by ensuring the board shows up, listens to voters, and never walks away from its responsibilities. And I’ll fight to protect our students and staff by advocating for a fully restored and funded DEI office, resisting any ICE presence on campus, and creating a culture of support, safety, and inclusion for all. This college belongs to the community, not administrators or donors, and I’m running to make sure it stays that way.
Challenges: Two of the biggest challenges facing Lane Community College are financial accessibility and an increasingly strained budget. Too many students are struggling to afford tuition, housing, transportation, and child care while trying to better their lives through education. As a board member, I’ll work to expand access to financial aid, explore tuition waiver options for low-income Lane County residents, and support wraparound services that help students stay enrolled and graduate. At the same time, LCC’s limited budget requires smarter, more transparent decision-making. We can’t afford wasteful projects or surprise cuts. I will push for clear priorities, invest in programs that deliver the most for students, and ensure public dollars serve our educational mission, not pet projects or top-heavy administration.
Board effectiveness: If elected, I’ll bring a clear commitment to collaboration, transparency, and results. The board has been stuck. Not because we lack smart people, but because we’ve lacked unity and followthrough. I believe the first step is rebuilding trust, and that starts with keeping your word, listening actively, and showing up prepared.
I’ll advocate for regular check-ins between board members, clear procedural expectations, and more opportunities for students, staff, and faculty to offer input early in the process. I’ll work across differences and stay focused on our shared mission: strengthening Lane Community College for the people who rely on it.
I’m not interested in dysfunction or power struggles. I’m interested in service, stability, and getting things done together.
Endorsements: State Reps. John Lively, Farrah Chaichi, and Rob Nosse; Lane Community College Board of Education Chair Zach Mulholland and board member Austin Fölnagy; Lane Community College Employee Federation; Lane Community College Education Association; Oregon Education Association; LGBTQ+ Victory Fund; Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon Action Fund; Oregon Working Families Party; Eugene 4J School Board members Maya Rabasa and Ericka Thessen, Lane Education Service District board member Rose Wilde; Western States Regional Council of Carpenters; former Lane County Commissioner Jerry Rust, and Democratic Municipal Officials.
