Springfield voters will decide on Nov. 3 which of two community‑focused candidates will complete the Ward 4 City Council term left vacant when Beth Blackwell resigned at the end of 2025. Callee Ackland, a tenant‑support specialist with the Springfield Eugene Tenant Association, will challenge incumbent interim councilor Jill Cuadros, the support services director for Eugene School District 4J.
Candidate backgrounds
Ackland grew up near Salem, served four years in the U.S. Navy as a cryptologic technician, and later opened a low‑waste refillery and a mobile plant shop in South Dakota. She returned to Oregon in 2023 to be closer to family and has worked at the tenant association since 2024, helping renters understand their rights under state and local law. Ackland also serves on the Springfield Planning Commission and the Lane County Community Health Improvement Coalition.
Cuadros was raised in Port Orford, where her father fished commercially. After a stint in Los Angeles working in parks and recreation, she moved to Springfield in 1988 to attend Lane Community College. She spent nearly two decades with the Willamalane Park & Recreation District before joining the school district as support services director. In April, the City Council appointed her as interim Ward 4 councilor, a role she will seek to retain.
Key issues and policy positions
Ackland says she wants to bring “joy back into politics” by holding regular town halls, offering office‑hour appointments, and breaking down complex regulations for residents. Her platform centers on affordability, livability and sustainability. She proposes stronger tenant protections, limits on rental application fees and security deposits, and a ban on AI‑driven rent‑fixing software. Ackland also wants to form a Springfield Resiliency Committee to address wildfire‑related infrastructure risks and to reform Measures 5 and 50, which cap property taxes and, she argues, contribute to the city’s general‑fund deficit.
Cuadros emphasizes preparedness and a data‑driven approach to governance. She cites a recent council meeting where she quickly learned a new agenda item, describing it as a “private learning moment” that will help her avoid being a reactionary councilor. Cuadros highlights her hands‑on experience touring neighborhoods, listening to residents, and her background in youth programming and culinary arts. She supports maintaining public safety tools such as automated license‑plate reader cameras only when they do not divert funds from essential services.
Community perspectives
Both candidates note the importance of hearing directly from Springfielders. Ackland points to the city’s 45 % renter population, arguing that a renter’s perspective is currently missing on the council. She also stresses pedestrian safety, calling for prompt pothole repairs. Cuadros stresses collaboration, saying her time on the council has been about learning and asking the right questions before making decisions.
The race also touches broader state issues. Ackland calls for a statewide moratorium on hyperscale data centers until Oregon legislators can regulate AI and large‑scale data‑center development. Both candidates agree that any future technology projects must protect local resources and community values.
What’s at stake
The winner will serve the remainder of Blackwell’s term, which runs through 2028, and will be the only renter on the council if Ackland is elected. The council’s responsibilities include setting policy, passing ordinances, authorizing contracts, adopting the city budget, and appointing the city manager and city attorney. Councilors serve without pay but wield significant influence over Springfield’s future direction.
Springfield residents can vote on Nov. 3 at their designated polling locations. Early voting begins Oct. 20, and absentee ballots are available upon request. Voter guides and candidate forums are being hosted by local civic groups, including the Springfield City Club, which recently featured a debate on automated license‑plate reader cameras.
Original reporting: Homepage – Lookout Eugene-Springfield — read the source article.
