Half of the six Springfield City Council seats are up for election: the seats for Wards 1, 2 and 5. In each, the current councilor is running uncontested. Councilors are elected to four-year terms and serve without pay.

Councilors represent specific areas of town, and candidates must reside within the ward they are running to represent. But they are elected by citywide vote, meaning all Springfield voters can weigh in on all three seats.

Candidates provided answers in their own words to questions from Lookout. Our questions are in bold, followed by their responses.

Michelle Webber

Age: 59

Residence: Springfield, Ward 1

Education: High School Diploma

Occupation: Retired (Commercial Loan Documentation)

Prior elected experience: Springfield School Board

Family status: married, 2 children

Key endorsements: I have not requested endorsements

Qualifications: What in your background would make you the best councilor for your race?

This is my fourth year serving on the Springfield City Council. During this time, I worked through complex budget decisions, long‑range planning efforts, and policy discussions that require careful listening and a steady, collaborative approach. My prior service on the Springfield School Board strengthened my understanding of public governance and the importance of balancing community needs with limited resources. My professional background in commercial loan documentation gave me a strong foundation in financial processes, attention to detail, and responsible decision‑making.

Priorities: What would your top three goals be if elected and how would you accomplish them?

Reduce the growing lack of trust in government: I will continue promoting transparency, open communication, and respectful dialogue. Building trust requires consistent engagement, clear explanations of decisions, and a willingness to listen to concerns even when viewpoints differ.

Focus on a robust economy: I support efforts that strengthen Springfield’s economic base, attract and retain businesses, and create more job opportunities for residents. A healthy local economy helps fund essential services and improves everyone’s quality of life.

Keep our community safe: I will continue working with our public safety partners to ensure that Springfield remains a safe and welcoming community. This includes supporting prevention efforts, emergency response, and long‑term planning that aligns resources with community needs.

Residents: What are the gaps and shortcomings in city services and how would you address them? 

Evaluate City services: Shrinking revenue streams are forcing us to evaluate all city services and determine how to maintain essential functions with fewer resources. I will continue working with staff and fellow councilors to prioritize core services, seek efficiencies, and explore sustainable long‑term funding strategies.

Collaboration: How would you work with other councilors and city staff to find solutions to common problems? Give us an example of a time you worked on a collaborative solution. 

Be collaborative. In Springfield, collaboration is already a core part of how we govern. We work through issues with respect for differing viewpoints until we find common ground. A recent example is our discussion around Automated License Plate Readers. Councilors, staff, and concerned community members engaged in detailed conversations, asked hard questions, and worked together. We’re making progress, because we’re listening to different perspectives and seeking a solution that works in Springfield.

Federal government: How have recent actions by the federal government affected your goals and priorities, if at all? 

Recognize and respond to Federal Government changes. Shifts in federal funding affect our local priorities and require us to adjust plans to match available resources. As these changes occur, I remain focused on ensuring Springfield is well‑positioned to access funding opportunities and respond to evolving requirements.

Life experience: Outside of any elected experience in your background (if any), what other experiences in life have prepared you for this role?

Use my life experience. My father was a successful journalist who later opened his own business. When that business failed, he became deeply discouraged, and my mother worked two or three jobs to support our family. Growing up in those circumstances taught me resilience and gave me a firsthand understanding of the financial pressures many families face. That experience shapes my commitment to practical, compassionate decision‑making that supports a community where families can thrive even in difficult times.

Steve Moe

Age: 83

Residence: Springfield, Ward 2

Education: Southern Oregon College.  I applied for Traffic Control Patents in the USA, Canada, Japan and Germany and they were awarded on February 18, 1975. In conjunction  with that I spent a year in Dearborn Michigan at the Institution  of Traffic Engineering.

Occupation: Electronic Engineering

Prior Elected Experience: 8 years Springfield City Councilor, Willamalane Park Board. 

NOT ELECTED Lane County Planning Commission 8 years, Springfield Planning Commission 8 years, Springfield History Museum, Metropolitan Planning Advisory Committee 10 years, 

Family status: Married, one son and one daughter

Key endorsements: No endorsements

Qualifications: What in your background would make you the best councilor for your race?

I’ve seen Springfield grow and been a part of the land use, business, and local government. Lots of Springfield experience. 

Priorities: What would your top three goals be if elected and how would you accomplish them?

Economic stability is primary right now. The current city budget has no reserve for our future., It will not be easy but we might have to cut some city services until funding is available. I’m very supportive of supporting local business to grow as they contribute to our tax base.  Land use laws are restricting growth as they drive up land and building costs. We need to provide jobs so citizens can shop and buy homes.

Residents: What are the gaps and shortcomings in city services and how would you address them? 

City Services follow legal mandates (federal and state)  plus reflect what the citizens want the city to provide. Right now we  don’t have the funding so I feel some city services will not grow for a while. 

Collaboration: How would you work with other councilors and city staff to find solutions to common problems? Give us an example of a time you worked on a collaborative solution. 

Our council is representive of our cities  population and most issues are discussed at council work sessions or meetings and consensus prevails.

Federal government: How have recent actions by the federal government affected your goals and priorities, if at all?

Not a lot of hope there. Federally funded projects are not stable.  

Life experience: Outside of any elected experience in your background (if any), what other experiences in life have prepared you for this role?

Operated a very large construction company then moved into the world of electronics. Built bridges, highways, water systems, sewer systems. Primary interests are the field of physics.  Began running and still do that every day – rain or shine hot and cold and love running in the rain.  Love my work – 12 hours a day by 7 days a week and 365 days a year.  Have been and are treasurer for over 50 political action committees. Ground Observer Corp,  Air Force ROTC, Boy Scouts.

Andrew Buck

Age: 46

Residence: Springfield, Ward 5

Education: Master Degree

Occupation: Insurance agent

Prior elected experience: Appointed to Planning Commission 

Family status: Married with two kids

Key endorsements: Democratic Party endorsement

Qualifications: What in your background would make you the best councilor for your race?

I have served in various roles in Kiwanis, Rotary, and the Planning commission in Springfield. I think that my collective experience has helped me developed an appreciation for a diverse range of perspectives. 

Priorities: What would your top three goals be if elected and how would you accomplish them?

The first goal is to be someone who can listen to the different perspectives in our community and do all I can to make sure they are heard on the topic important to them. I also look forward to helping the City of Springfield continue the great work that has been done over the past 20 years. 

Residents: What are the gaps and shortcomings in city services and how would you address them? 

I think the City, like many places in our community, is constantly working to adapt to the needs of our residents. The work is never done and the biggest area that I see opportunity for improvement is with the communication to our residents and business sector. 

Collaboration: How would you work with other councilors and city staff to find solutions to common problems? Give us an example of a time you worked on a collaborative solution. 

The key to collaboration is understanding the perspectives involved and what is driving them. Often the common ground is greater than what we may think. One example of how I have done this is through a recent conversation with a client about concerns their insurance carrier was bringing up. As it turned out the conflict was based on perception and not reality, once the perception was clarified the issue was resolved.  

Federal government: How have recent actions by the federal government affected your goals and priorities, if at all? 

City and local Government are different in many ways from the Federal system. When you live, work, and play in the same community you understand that working together is a way of life. Your kids my go to school together, you see each other at the Grocery Store, etc. That leads to a different approach to problems solving and collaboration. 

Life experience: Outside of any elected experience in your background (if any), what other experiences in life have prepared you for this role?

Being a Dad has changed the way I look at the world. Leadership is a constant work in progress and if you approach things with the right intentions you usually end up doing better than you think you are.