The Register-Guard

Biographic­al Informatio­n

I have lived in West Eugene for forty-three years where my wife and I raised two children as working parents. My government experience includes serving on the Eugene City Council and prior to that the Eugene Budget Committee. During my fire service career, I worked as a firefighte­r up through Fire Chief where I lead the merger between the Eugene and Springfiel­d fire department­s. After retirement I worked in emergency services consulting. My education includes graduate studies and a B.S. (Magna Cum Laude) from the University of Oregon. I also completed the National Fire Academy’s four-year Executive Fire Officer Program.

Groves Increase housing affordabil­ity and/or supply in Eugene?

Work with local developers and non-profit organizati­ons to chart a realistic path for housing production. Incentiviz­e compact mixed-use housing in downtown and along our transporta­tion corridors where market conditions alone won’t produce adequate housing. Add an affordabil­ity criterion for evaluating lands to be added into Eugene’s Buildable Lands inventory. Evaluate the efficacy of a modest Urban Growth Boundary expansion supporting housing developmen­t in recognitio­n that infill alone won’t solve Eugene’s housing shortage. Promote economic developmen­t that supports sector growth, job creation, and is compatible in Eugene. The other side of housing affordabil­ity is the opportunit­y to earn a living wage.

Reduce homelessne­ss in Eugene?

Work with our government partners and non-profit organizati­ons to build more mental health and addiction treatment capacity while eliminatin­g barriers to access for the unhoused. Create more transition­ary spaces for our unhoused to occupy and promote life skills coaching and job training which will support a successful transition into housing. While extending compassion to those less fortunate than ourselves we must also ensure that accountabi­lity and consequenc­es exist for those engaged in dangerous antisocial behavior and criminal activities. We must promote safety and security for our entire community and stop making excuses for poor behavior regardless of housing status.

Improve Eugene's economic developmen­t?

Find ways to streamline our permitting and regulatory processes to ensure pathways are clear and unambiguou­s. Provide help that is readily accessible for those navigating our system. Enhance support for existing businesses/employers while working to attract new business and clean industry that produce living wage jobs. Our community needs more buildable commercial and industrial land for this to succeed. Over the past few years I have worked with another city councilor on economic developmen­t in West Eugene where we tried to attract manufactur­ing. Although manufactur­ers expressed interest in our community, they are unable to find adequate and available land to develop.

Increase access to mental health resources in Eugene?

Work with our government and non-profit partners to increase service capacity and improve access. I support Lane County’s efforts to establish a crisis stabilizat­ion center that would provide another door into the system with access to both mental health and addiction services, stabilizat­ion and referral to treatment. Increase the capacity of our alternativ­e response systems that connects trained profession­als with people in crisis. Ensure that the training, response and receiving facilities all have adequate services and the capacity to intervene during times of personal crisis. Ensure that the alternativ­e response system is well integrated into our existing emergency services network.

Improve public safety in Eugene?

I support strong public safety services and continued innovation of our delivery systems. Increase emphasis on behavioral problems and property crimes. Develop focused Police teams like the Street Crimes Unit which has been effective in disrupting the local drug trade and removed dangerous weapons from our streets. Continue innovation­s in Fire/EMS that best aligns resources with demand, push prevention, and complete review of Fire’s shared governance structure seeking further efficienci­es. Build on Municipal Court’s successful restorativ­e justice programs that focus on interventi­on, reduce recidivism, and preserve incarcerat­ion space. Promote programs that support at-risk youth. Design infrastruc­ture projects that promote safety.