Veneta residents will choose two at‑large council members on Nov. 3. Incumbent electrician‑turned‑councilor David Voltz, retired ER nurse practitioner Alexa Benson, purchasing manager Clint Case, and former teacher Betsy Ingram have all filed to run for the open seats.

David Voltz – Infrastructure and Infill Housing

Voltz, who moved to Veneta in 2019 and served three years on the Planning Commission, was appointed to the council after a vacancy and now seeks a full term. He says the city’s urban growth boundary leaves little room for outward expansion, so he favors using vacant parcels within the existing limits for “connected, diverse housing” rather than isolated subdivisions.

His approach relies on incentives such as tiered development charges, pre‑approved accessory dwelling unit designs, and faster permitting for small, accessible homes. Voltz notes that the city’s water‑and‑sewer connection fees run roughly $35,000‑$40,000 regardless of home size, citing the 2026 fee schedule that lists $29,406 in total system development charges for a typical single‑family home.

He also supports consumption‑based utility rates and wants renters, not just owners, notified about nearby development applications. If the budget tightens, Voltz says he would protect public works over parks, emphasizing that “everybody drinks water.”

Alexa Benson – Transitional Housing and Community Services

Benson, a retired emergency‑room nurse practitioner who also sits on the parks board and runs the nonprofit Veneta Serves, is running for re‑election. Her top priority is establishing transitional housing for the homeless, proposing small units about 8 feet by 12 feet built by Team Oregon Build.

She stresses that such housing must include “full wrap‑around services” – mental‑health counseling, drug‑addiction treatment, criminal‑record assistance, health care, ID issuance, and transportation to appointments. Benson believes this approach is far cheaper than allowing people to remain on the streets where law‑enforcement and fire‑department resources are repeatedly deployed.

She also backs the city’s paths and trails master plan and notes a memorandum of understanding with Lane County’s housing agency, Homes for Good, to develop a vacant lot on Broadway for mixed‑use, including affordable housing on upper levels. Benson would like the council to hire an event planner to preserve local traditions, and she points to last year’s public‑safety fee increase as a modest step toward addressing crime, while rejecting the notion that homelessness is the root cause.

Clint Case – Fiscal Responsibility and Targeted Homelessness Aid

Case, a purchasing manager at Stahlbush Island Farms, has lived in Veneta for nine years and served three years on the city’s budget committee. He describes his candidacy as “about participating” rather than sweeping reform, emphasizing a desire to see projects through and maintain the city’s balanced budget.

He brands himself a centrist focused on fiscal responsibility, drawing on his project‑management experience to oversee large outsourced contracts. Case supports proportionate spending on homelessness, noting Veneta’s small unhoused population and limited mental‑health resources. He proposes low‑cost measures such as free bus passes to services in Eugene.

Case is the only candidate to suggest trimming the city’s policing contract, which currently costs $1.26 million for 2025‑26, arguing that crime levels in Veneta are low and the contract could be reduced modestly.

Betsy Ingram – Responsible Growth and Downtown Revitalization

Ingram, a retired special‑education teacher and former adjunct professor, moved to Veneta four years ago after the Camp Fire in California. She serves on the parks board and helps coordinate the Blackberry bRamble bike ride.

She advocates “responsible growth,” referencing the Comprehensive Plan’s forecast that Veneta will reach 10,505 residents by 2035. Ingram wants new development to include usable parks, school space, and affordable housing, and she seeks collaboration with the Oregon Department of Transportation on safety improvements to Highway 126.

Her vision for a “vibrant downtown” focuses on keeping visitor dollars in Veneta by encouraging locally owned businesses along West Broadway and supporting amenities near the new Bolton Hill Sports Complex. Ingram also wants to reinstate the neighborhood watch program, working with Mayor Robbie McCoy to bring back a once‑active community safety effort.

All four candidates will appear on the mailed ballots this week, giving Veneta voters a clear choice between continuity and fresh perspectives on housing, public works, fiscal stewardship, and community vitality.

Original reporting: Homepage – Lookout Eugene-Springfield — read the source article.