SPRINGFIELD – Earlier this year, Victoria Doyle announced her resignation from the Springfield City Council, where she represented Ward 5. On Sept. 8, the council approved the process of recruiting applicants.
Last week, Mary Bridget Smith, city attorney, informed the council that there was only one application for the vacant Ward 5 position.
On Monday, Andrew W. Buck, board chair for the Springfield Planning Commission, was unanimously appointed to fill the term, which ends in December 2026.
Buck is 45 years old and has previously worked as an insurance agent for Great Basin Insurance for six years. After that, he served as a nonprofit specialist for HUB International, another insurance agency. Most recently, Buck has worked as a producer for Oregon Insurance Company LLC. He has a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in counseling psychology from Southern Oregon University and Northwest Christian University, respectively.
“I think the things that are going to help me serve in this role are the fact that I have some pretty good listening skills,” Buck said. “Being able to clearly communicate, ‘hey, you know what, I get that you’re frustrated because you see this side of it, and I get that. And let me show you kind of the bigger picture, and how we’re going to factor in your concerns into the bigger picture,’” he said.
Smith gave a preview of what some of the interview questions would look like, saying that there would be seven and that each councilor would ask a question.
“There are questions like, ‘What do you like best about Springfield?’” Smith said. “The concept of being elected city-wide, but representing a ward, if there are things you could change about Springfield, also understanding between council, city manager, and staff, and then if the applicant had any questions for (the council).”
The position for an interim councilor will serve through the end of December 2026, and the position will be up for election during the May 2026 primary, with the elected councilor beginning a four-year term in January 2027, according to the City.
Buck was appointed to the Springfield Planning Commission in December 2024, with his term expiring on Dec. 31, 2028. In 2023, the Planning Commission elected Buck as a Liaison for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee.
“I’m looking forward to collaborative efforts to help Springfield continue the path that’s already been laid for Springfield over the last several decades, because a lot of great work has been done,” Buck said. “But I think that anybody who is truly aligned with the long-term vision for Springfield would say that it’s a work in progress, and we’ve done good work up to this point, but we’re certainly not done.”
Formal appointment of the Interim Councilor will be on Oct. 27, during a special session.
