Ethan for Eugene
A pragmatic voice for Ward 1
Too often, Eugene’s political system is adversarial, driven by preconceived understandings of one another. But the reality is that the different stakeholders in our community want the same things – abundant and accessible housing, safe public spaces and downtown streets, and an economy that supports us all.
I’m Ethan Clevenger, and I’m running for Eugene City Council in Ward 1 to be part of a council that listens to all voices, but also leads decisively and generates results for its constituents.
Betting on Downtown
Several years ago, I attended my first city council meeting. I couldn’t have imagined it would be an hours-long marathon for which a deep line of downtown business owners had organized to object to a temporary shelter in downtown Eugene.
I sat frustrated, as these business owners seemed to be arguing against their own interests. They were concerned about attracting more homeless folks, more of the drug-addicted, downtown. But in reality, those folks were already camping in these business owners’ doorsteps.
I was also aware that I neither lived, nor worked, in or around downtown. Was this any of my business? Did I understand all the factors at play?
A healthy downtown is the economic backbone of a city. These areas are a dense tax base spread over a tapestry of stakeholders rather than a few select beneficiaries. This part I understood. A city cannot thrive without a thriving downtown.
So fast-forward a few years, and I’ve staked my claim in downtown. In 2020, in the midst of a global pandemic, I opened the doors to Porterhouse Clothing & Supply squarely within the downtown core. And in December 2023, my wife and I were fortunate enough to move into a 100-year-old arts-and-crafts fixer in Jefferson Westside. We’re betting on downtown, and in turn, Ward 1.
I’m here to listen to constituents and balance lofty and commendable goals against the realities of the challenges we face. And I could use all the help I can get.
Ethan has a combination of lived experience, policy knowledge, and pragmatism that is sorely lacking and desperately needed in Eugene’s city government. I don’t necessarily agree with him on everything but I believe that he is open to listening, thoughtful, and has the city’s best interests at heart. For those reasons, I support his candidacy and hope you will do the same.
Seth Revoal
Downtown Eugene Business Owner