Loveall says government isn’t the answer to Lane County’s challenges

Lane County Board of Commissioners Chair David Loveall isn’t sugarcoating the problems facing the county, including a broken mental-health system, a housing crisis and an underfunded law enforcement agency.

But in his State of the County address and an accompanying video Monday, Jan. 5, Loveall — whose one-year term as chair ends this week — emphasized another point: Government alone, he said, isn’t the answer.

For example, he said, “Our housing problem will not be solved, at least by government.” 

What’s necessary, he said, is for the private sector to have affordable building costs and low interest rates, while policymakers keep permitting costs and other development costs reined in. 

And he encouraged people to help others where they can, highlighting an example of a neighbor who let a homeless man temporarily stay in his motor home while rebuilding his life. 

“My hat’s off to the likes of my elderly neighbor who doesn’t think government is the problem-solver,” Loveall said.

His address reflected the values of a plainspoken — his critics may say abrasive — developer who risked his savings to reshape part of Springfield’s downtown before running for the county Board of Commissioners, his first elected office, four years ago.

Public safety needs highlighted

Lovell did praise accomplishments of the county, including starting a deflection program that aids people in drug addiction.

Despite that accomplishment and others, he emphasized what he said is the need to enhance public safety throughout the county.

His remarks came as the county explores options for improving public safety, which could include asking Lane County voters to approve a payroll tax or special taxing district as early as 2027.

“For us to live as a peaceful community, we must hold the line on public safety,” Loveall said. “Our level of shared coverage continues to be a major concern of mine, and it should be for all of us.”

That theme emerged in a film that played before Loveall’s speech that introduced viewers to the law enforcement needs and other issues in Lane County, including homelessness. It featured Loveall, County Sheriff Carl Wilkerson, District Attorney Christopher Parosa and Gabe Piechowicz, founder and executive director of Everyone Village, a transitional housing program in west Eugene that serves homeless people.

In the video, Wilkerson talks about how a typical patrol shift has just three deputies and a sergeant on duty covering a vast county.

“To cross the county, which happens on a regular basis, a deputy may drive two hours to respond to a single call,” Wilkerson said.

Parosa highlighted the high caseloads of overworked prosecutors, warning that the conditions can potentially lead to “unjust outcomes.”

“It’s going to take a lot of money, a lot of effort and some sacrifices and perhaps even some hard choices,” Loveall said in the film. “But I know our public is behind us because they want their lives to improve.”

Speaking to reporters afterward, Loveall said he’s not in support of raising taxes.

“I don’t want to tax people anymore,” he said. “People, I think, are getting tired of being taxed, but I do think that we’re going to have to make some deep spending cuts in what we do for the county. The string doesn’t go from one end to the other anymore. Something’s going to have to fall off.”

Loveall wraps up tenure as chair 

Loveall’s opposition to taxes may not be the final word on that issue with the county Board of Commissioners. 

Loveall has been in the minority on the board when voting against the CleanLane garbage processing and recycling project, for example. And he’s quick to admit that the chair’s influence is just one vote on a five-member board. 

“As board chair, you know, we really don’t have power over the board,” Loveall said after the event. “The board chair doesn’t have an absolute pen where he can just do something on his own.”

Regardless, Loveall’s term as chair ends Tuesday, when commissioners pick another chair as part of their annual rotation.

But Loveall will continue in his role as a county commissioner and is running for a second term representing his district, which includes Springfield. 

Springfield Mayor Sean VanGordon is running against him. VanGordon attended the State of the County event, as did Eugene Mayor Kaarin Knudson.

‘Government isn’t the people’s savior’

At times, Monday’s event was infused with stark religious overtones that reflected the Christian faith of Loveall, who has done missionary work in Uganda. 

Loveall invited Chris Cirullo of Eugene to say an opening prayer at the event. Cirullo, a regular speaker during public comment at meetings, often uses his allotted time to pray for the region. Loveall said he met Cirullo at a Costco store and has since become impressed at the “sum of his experiences,” which include military service and his role as a family man.

“Come and heal Lane County, one heart at a time,” Cirullo prayed. “You are Lord of all, including Lane County. And in the end, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. But for some, it will be too late. I just pray that the people of Lane County don’t wait.”

For his part, Loveall reflected those values when speaking about the role of government.

“Government isn’t the people’s savior,” he said. “I believe some 2,000 years ago, somebody already took that job.”

‘No shortage to criticism’

Speaking with reporters afterward, Loveall acknowledged his tenure as chair has attracted criticism — including complaints from county employees and other commissioners about Loveall’s comments and statements. Among them: He allegedly called a former county staffer a “spinster” and warned the county administrator about employees who complained about him. Loveall said he accepts the criticism, but added that he believes some recent news coverage was unfair.

“There’s no shortage to criticism when you’re in a leadership position, warranted or unwarranted,” he said. “I mean, obviously, I’ve been the focal point of some criticism from some news stories that I think were unfairly represented.” 

Without elaborating, Loveall said the county’s investigations showed that certain aspects of accusations “didn’t hold water” and that his version of events “should have come out into the public view.”

“But I understand journalism is a clickbait business, and sometimes the resolution of what really happened doesn’t make as many readers,” Loveall said. 

Lane County has denied some public records requests from Lookout Eugene-Springfield seeking reports and emails about allegations, accusations and findings about Loveall. 

The Lane County counsel’s office, not Loveall, handles records requests.