Willamette Watch: A new newsletter from our government and accountability team

Welcome to the first edition of Willamette Watch, Lookout Eugene-Springfield’s weekly political newsletter from our three-person government and accountability team — the largest in Lane County.

Willamette Watch is your front-row seat to the decisions and debates shaping our region and state — and the Lookout Eugene-Springfield watchdogs keeping power in check. You can start your week getting caught up on all the recent news, as well as preview what’s coming up.

Every Monday morning, Lookout correspondents Ben Botkin, Grace Chinowsky and Lillian Schrock-Clevenger deliver the latest developments (and behind-the-scenes buzz) within Lane County government, Eugene and Springfield city halls, the statehouse and the campaign trail through our partners at the Oregon Journalism Project and Oregon Capital Chronicle.

Willamette Watch is one of the many free newsletters published by Lookout Eugene-Springfield. Click here to get them delivered to your inbox daily and weekly.

Scroll down and you will find recent government and accountability stories from the entire Lookout Eugene-Springfield newsroom, as well as a look at Eugene City Hall from Grace, the latest Springfield news from Lillian — as well as public meetings you might want to attend.

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Legislature holds hearing on Oregon State Hospital  

After multiple reports by Lookout Eugene-Springfield, including an exclusive look at a jaw-dropping internal Oregon State Hospital report, the Oregon Senate Interim Committee on Judiciary held a hearing Monday that included a presentation from state officials about preventing deaths at the facility.

“If there are very specific questions about very specific events, we will not be able to respond,” said Dave Baden, a deputy director at the Oregon Health Authority who stepped in temporarily as Oregon State Hospital’s superintendent in April, after interim superintendent Dr. Sara Walker resigned.

Baden was joined by Dr. Amit Bhavan, interim chief medical officer of Oregon State Hospital, at the Salem hearing.

“Would I say that the culture of the Oregon State Hospital is where we all want it to be?” Baden told the Senate panel. “No, but we can continue to make improvements.”

The report on the March 18 death of Kenneth Hass, a 25-year-old from Lane County, found a “culture of complacency” and systemic problems, as the hospital has experienced five unexpected patient deaths in the last two years. In Hass’ case, hospital staffers faced resistance or indifference when they advocated for changes to help Hass, who lived for months in a seclusion room without access to a bathroom.

Bhavan said the hospital is working to make changes, including reducing the time patients are in seclusion or restraints.

This is the first legislative hearing on the deaths at Oregon State Hospital and follows an editorial by Lookout Eugene-Springfield calling on legislators to act. 

‘Mok has dropped an email to torpedo my reelection campaign’

The Lane County Board of Commissioners faces a potential shakeup next year: Springfield Mayor Sean VanGordon has jumped into the race for one of the seats.

VanGordon, Springfield’s mayor since 2021, is running for Chair David Loveall’s seat. The same day VanGordon announced, Loveall followed suit, saying he’s running for a second four-year term.

The incumbent’s reelection bid has been on his mind — and so have his recent controversies. On Sept. 18, records show, Loveall texted a former county staffer looking for some guidance. 

Loveall’s perceived problem: County Administrator Steve Mokrohisky had sent an email two weeks earlier that outlined his concerns about Loveall’s comments and behavior over the past two years. On Sept. 12, Lookout Eugene-Springfield was the first media outlet to report on that email.

Six days later, the email still was on Loveall’s mind.  

“Mok has dropped an email to torpedo my reelection campaign and I’d like some background if you’re up for remembering,” Loveall texted the former staffer Sept. 18, according to text messages Willamette Watch obtained from a public records request.

The former county associate’s name is redacted from the text message thread, though Loveall seemed hopeful the person would offer help.

“It’s come to lawyers and a battle,” Loveall texted. “I’d like to get some offense going.”

The person said they didn’t have anything to add.

“I have long since repaired my relationship with Steve and I respect him and trust his integrity,” the person texted.

Three of the five Lane County commissioner seats are up for election in 2026. Two other commissioners are also running for another term: Heather Buch and Ryan Ceniga. No one has filed to challenge Ceniga, while two candidates are running against Buch: consultant Jake Pelroy and retired forester Bob Zybach.

Region reacts to ICE raids and more 

Correspondent Jaime Adame kept us up to speed on the community’s response to recent federal immigration enforcement activity throughout Lane County. 

There’s plenty: An attorney complained the federal immigration officers kept her from meeting with detainees; the Lane County Sheriff’s Office released video footage of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer entering a locked jail lobby to make arrests; and about 150 Cottage Grove community members gathered in a candlelight vigil to support those impacted by recent ICE raids.

The Medford Emeralds? The Eugene Emeralds are continuing to eye a potential move to Medford, spurred in part by a voter-approved hotel tax increase to aid development projects like stadiums. 

Drazan visits Coburg: Republican state Sen. Christine Drazan, the most prominent GOP candidate running against Gov. Tina Kotek, made a campaign stop Friday at a trucking facility in Coburg. 

— Ben Botkin

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Inside Eugene City hall with Grace chinowsky

Election 2026: It’s still in its early days, but there’s already been a shake-up in the race for one of four Eugene City Council seats up for grabs in the May 2026 election.

Tai Pruce-Zimmerman, who chairs the city’s budget committee, quietly suspended his candidacy for the Ward 6 seat after incumbent Greg Evans, the council chair, filed to seek his fourth term. The ward includes the Bethel and Trainsong neighborhoods.

Evans submitted paperwork nearly a month after Pruce-Zimmerman, who began early fundraising efforts and created a “Together with Tai” campaign slogan. 

Pruce-Zimmerman never wanted to challenge Evans and informally pulled out of the race after learning of Evans’ candidacy a couple of weeks ago, he said. He won’t complete his campaign filing unless Evans changes his mind.

Evans said he wants to finish up ongoing projects in his ward, and if elected, this term will be his last. 

City manager search: Assistant City Manager Matt Rodrigues will be appointed Eugene’s interim city manager when Sarah Medary retires in December. The city says Rodrigues will “maintain stability” as recruiters hired by the City Council search for a permanent replacement.

Airport: During Monday’s airport expansion discussion — which included talk of possible benefactor funding — Councilor Matt Keating joked about the idea of an airport emblazoned with a Nike swoosh. Airport Director Cathryn Stephens answered: “Well, you said it!” 

Mayor to mayor: New York City’s next mayor recently got a nod from his Eugene counterpart. Kaarin Knudson congratulated Zohran Mamdani for his win earlier this month, noting his debate-stage mention of Eugene’s CAHOOTS crisis-response model (RIP). 

“I love that he gave Eugene a shoutout, and that his team can see our community’s resourcefulness all the way from New York City,” Knudson told me. “Cities of all sizes can learn from each other.”

Coincidentally, Eugene officials are seeking an alternative to CAHOOTS, which achieved national acclaim before running into financial headwinds.

Checking in on Springfield With lillian Schrock-Clevenger

Ice cream: During a lull in questions at his press conference last week, Springfield Mayor VanGordon offered his favorite ice cream flavor: Umpqua French vanilla. 

“That’s what happens when you grow up in Douglas County, is you become an Umpqua ice cream fan,” he said before suggesting reporters get a frozen dessert at Mr. Ice Cream on Main Street (which happens to serve Umpqua brand ice cream).

Produce: Plans are moving forward for a farmers market in Springfield. If the city signs on, it would debut next summer, taking place on Sundays in the library parking lot. 

Votes: This week, City Council will vote on a proposal from DevNW to use American Rescue Plan Act funds to build townhomes for low-income families. Councilors will also vote on whether to ratify a new three-year contract with the employees’ union. 

Mini sweeper: A fun note from the consent agenda: The public works department wants funds to buy a miniature street sweeper (about 12.5 by 4 feet) to clean multi-use paths and roundabouts. 

Heritage: The city will recognize the winners of the 2025 Heritage Awards, and one honoree is the Nativity Ukrainian Catholic Church. Read about the church’s annual Ukrainian Day festival.

Dogs: The city began distributing its Canines for Clean Water 2026 calendar. You can pick up a free copy at select locations while supplies last, but hurry — there are only 4,500 copies.

beyond lane county

Around Oregon and beyond, media outlets kept us updated on a slew of issues:

The Oregon Journalism Project, one of our partners, reported on a pending U.S. Supreme Court case out of Mississippi that challenges the counting of ballots received after Election Day. That could impact Oregon, one of at least 19 states that also allow such counting.

The Oregon Capital Chronicle reported on Oregon’s lack of a strong focus on nuclear power in its energy strategy and the retirement of Kris Strickler, director of the Oregon Department of Transportation. 

Up the coast, a defense contractor withdrew an inquiry seeking land at the Newport Municipal Airport, a location believed to be a potential site for Oregon’s first Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility, the Capital Chronicle reported. 

The New York Times reported on a wave of burglaries that have targeted Asian households, including in Lane County.

Public Meetings this week

Monday, Nov. 17

• The Eugene City Council is holding public hearings on the extension of Comcast’s cable television franchise agreement and city code updates regarding the transient lodging tax at 5:30 p.m.
• The Springfield City Council will meet on Monday, Nov. 17, at 5:30 p.m. for an executive session, followed by a regular meeting at 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 18

• Eugene’s Planning Commission will meet at 5:30 p.m. to discuss proposed land use changes for University of Oregon’s East Campus development, and later, the city’s Public Health Standards.
• Lane County commissioners will meet at 9 a.m. to discuss public safety funding, vote on a contract for health and wellness clinical services for county employees and approve a contract for about 250 employees in the sheriff’s office and county’s division of youth services. At 11 a.m., commissioners will go into executive session for two items: to consider records exempt from public inspection, and to discuss current or potential litigation. 

Wednesday, Nov. 19

• The Eugene City Council will discuss the Sustainability Commission’s work plan and proposed charter amendments at a noon work session.
• The Eugene Planning Commission will meet at 5:30 to discuss two zone change requests.

Do you have story ideas or tips? Send them our way: ben@lookoutlocal.com | grace@lookoutlocal.com | lilliansc@lookoutlocal.com

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