I wasn’t sure who I was going to vote for in the Eugene City Council Ward 3 race at first, so I spent some time looking into both candidates. After reading through their positions and after hearing their answers at the recent Lookout Eugene‑Springfield candidate forum, I’ve decided to support John Barofsky, Democrat, for Eugene City Council.

What stood out to me was his long record of civic involvement and the way he talks about the issues Eugene is facing: housing shortages, rising costs, public safety and the strain on city services. His focus on practical solutions, fiscal responsibility and transparency comes through clearly in how he talks about the issues. I also appreciated his background as a small business owner and his years of work on city boards and committees. It gave me a clearer sense of how he approaches decisions.

The endorsements mattered too. I don’t know him personally the way I know some other local officials, but the people who have worked with him speak to his commitment to this city. Congresswoman Val Hoyle’s endorsement, along with many others, helped me feel more confident in my choice.

Hearing both candidates at the Lookout forum made the differences in their approaches clearer to me. That conversation helped me make my choice, and I hope other Ward 3 voters take a look as well.

Curtis Taylor
Eugene