Jennifer Smith’s declared victory in her Eugene City Council race sent a clear and important message. Ward 3 voters overwhelmingly rejected the local business establishment’s efforts to dominate city government. Residents of Ward 3 recognized that Smith represents our ward’s enlightened values and progressive policy goals.

Voters were not fooled by the Chamber of Commerce’s aggressive use of campaign cash in its failed attempt to defeat the progressive candidate. Nor were voters swayed by endorsements from our centrist mayor and both Lookout Eugene-Springfield and the Eugene Weekly, all of whom obediently fell into line behind the “let’s bring business practices to city government” mantra Smith’s opponent adopted.

Instead, Ward 3 voters appreciated and responded positively to Smith’s clear and direct advocacy for workers, families, renters and those of us who firmly believe that putting people above profits is the key to good governance. Government is not a money-making enterprise and can never be run like one; such a simplistic approach always fails, whether at the local, state or national level.

In November, voters get another chance to reject the business-centric, profit-maximizing approach to city and county government when they will vote in Eugene’s Ward 5 and Lane County’s East Commissioner runoff races. I sincerely hope voters will elect Athena Aguiar to join Smith as another new progressive on the Eugene City Council and will also choose Heather Buch to remain a clear voice for workers and families on the Lane County Commission.

Both of them will face well-funded campaigns fed by corporate and logging interests. And both will need voters to recognize that we are all much better served by candidates who represent the people, not corporations.

Keith A. Eddins
Eugene