SPRINGFIELD – Six candidates have stepped forward to compete for the vacant role of Springfield’s Ward 4 City Councilor, all with a diverse array of backgrounds and experiences. Council will conduct candidate interviews during an April 6 council meeting, with deliberations on April 20.
The selected candidate will take over the position vacated by Beth Blackwell, who resigned in December 2025. Blackwell was appointed in April 2023 and was recently re-elected for a full term starting in January 2025. In her resignation letter, she stated that she found it increasingly challenging to balance her personal and professional responsibilities with the time and energy required for this volunteer leadership role.
The interim position will fill the seat until the November 2026 statewide general election, when voters will elect someone to serve the remaining two years of the term through Dec. 31, 2028.
About the candidates
- Callee Ackland, tenant support specialist at Springfield Eugene Tenant Association
According to her application, Ackland said the role would allow her to leverage her skills in a meaningful way. She noted her Navy background and said that through her service, she honed strong organizational skills and a thorough attention to detail.
“I aspire to use my skills and experiences to address the challenges facing our city, from improving infrastructure and supporting local businesses to promoting community engagement and ensuring public health and safety,” she said.
Ackland currently serves on the Springfield Planning Commission. - Jill Cuadros, support services director for Eugene School District 4J
Cuadros has lived in Springfield for 38 years and said she has seen the town transform. She wants the opportunity to give back to the community that has shaped both her personal and professional life.
“This community shaped me, and I care deeply about its continued strength and stability,” Cuadros said on her application.
She highlighted her experience managing complex budgets, overseeing operational systems, and contributing to long-range capital planning. - Ben Larson, farmer, licensed educator, and director of support professional for Springfield School District
Larson has experience as a publicly elected official and also has extensive financial management experience.
“As a city councilor, my priorities would be to assess city resources and focus on utilizing these to support Springfield residents to the best of my ability, integrating feedback from public testimony as well as my professional relationships in the community,” Larson said.
Larson currently serves on other boards, including the Lane Regional Air Protection Agency Citizens Advisory Committee. - CJ Mann, retired from the Housing Authority and Community Services Agency
Mann serves on the Willamalane Park and Recreation District Board as the director and as a board member for the Wildish Community Theater. She said she is actively trying to participate in as many civic opportunities as she can.
“In my over 38 years of working for the Housing Authority and Community Services of Lane County, I saw the best of Springfield, but I also saw the struggles of thousands of our neighbors. We can do better and we should make decisions that improve the lives of Springfield families,” she said. “I hope that I can change how people know and understand the role of the City. I hope to build coalitions of community members that feel safe, valued and important to the Council in a way that allows us, as councilors, to make those decisions that help the most people possible.” - Thomas McAllister, financial adviser at Northwestern Mutual and owner of Valley Sims Golf
McAllister said his experience as a financial adviser, small business owner, and longtime community volunteer has shaped a leadership style grounded in pragmatism, collaboration, and stewardship.
“I am a pragmatic leader who listens first, seeks common ground, and values transparent, accountable governance,” he said. “I recognize the importance of representing my ward while making decisions that serve the entire city.”
McAllister serves on the Willamalane Park Foundation and the Lane Transit District Committee. - Donald Sacrison, lead custodian at Springfield School District
Sacrison has been in Springfield for 47 years and works in the Springfield School District. He said he wants to be a councilor because, “With the political climate the way it is today, I am looking to be part of a positive change.”
He currently works as a lead custodian for Springfield Public Schools and says he would bring leadership, communication, and organizational strengths to the interim position.
“I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to leverage my strengths to engage actively with residents to address their concerns and shape policies that promote civic engagement,” Sacrison said. “I am excited about the prospect of contributing to Springfield’s mission by bringing a fresh perspective to City Council meetings and collaborating on community projects.”
