Big Town or Small City?

Is Eureka a big town or a tiny city? When you’re charting its future, which is the better way to think of it?

Eureka has always been a small town built around community, and that is something I believe we need to protect.

Events like Friday Night Market and Arts Alive are great examples of what makes Eureka special. They bring people together, support local businesses, and remind us that our community is stronger when we support one another.

I believe Eureka can grow while still maintaining that small-town feel. We can have great restaurants, local stores, new opportunities, and the amenities of a larger city without losing the sense of community that makes Eureka home.

I have lived in Eureka my entire life, and I have always loved how our community takes care of each other. Whether it is shopping local, helping a neighbor, supporting a local business, or simply looking out for one another, that community spirit is something worth protecting.

I think of Eureka as a big town with a big personality and big responsibilities. 

As the largest city in the region and the county seat of Humboldt, we have a fair number of public agencies and regional businesses. We also have a legacy of infrastructure from more prosperous times. For a town our size, we punch above our weight in terms of commerce, amenities, and community charm. Each of these aspects must be taken into account when planning long-term. 

We are our region’s economic engine. I want to continue seeing our local economy recover, but I don’t want to see our city sold to the highest bidder. It is crucial to preserve our unique character by nurturing and growing local businesses instead of seeking out large national/multinational brands that come in looking to maximize profit at our expense. 

Eureka is the face of Humboldt. The City serves as host for many groups, from disaster workers responding to fires to the occasional cruise ship full of tourists. We need to balance serving/attracting our guests while still prioritizing the everyday needs of our residents.

Our legacy as a boom town means we have wonderful facilities like the Sequoia Park Zoo and beautiful Victorian neighborhoods, but it also means we have a vast network of aging infrastructure and homes that are in need of repair/replacement. Our future maintenance costs must be placed front and center because we cannot afford to be caught off guard by rising costs. 

Above all, I want the future of this City to be one that can be enjoyed by those living here today. Community matters more than any one event, building, or piece of land. It is the people who ultimately make Eureka such a wonderful place to live.

I see Eureka as a small town with the responsibilities and opportunities of a city, and I believe we must protect that small-town character as we plan for the future. I was born and raised here and am a third-generation Humboldt County resident. My family roots date back to the 1940s, when one grandfather worked as a timber hauler and the other as a timber faller. Interestingly, my own career led me into 25 years of transportation, supply chain, warehousing, and technology industries across the nation. After returning home, I’ve seen both the incredible beauty of our community and the challenges we face, including deteriorating buildings, struggling small businesses, homelessness, addiction, and concerns about public safety. I strongly support economic development, but I believe our priorities should be revitalizing existing commercial properties, supporting locally owned businesses, encouraging entrepreneurship, and attracting responsible investment that complements our community. Having worked with major distribution companies, including Amazon, I’ve witnessed firsthand the increasing role of automation and robotics in warehousing and logistics. While large distribution centers may promise employment opportunities, we must carefully evaluate the long-term quality and sustainability of those jobs, the infrastructure demands, and the potential impact on local businesses. Bigger does not automatically mean better. I want Eureka to grow thoughtfully, not simply grow for the sake of growth. That means making our neighborhoods and business districts cleaner and safer, reducing unnecessary barriers for small businesses, preserving our historic character, and protecting the forests, coastline, waterways, and natural beauty that make this region extraordinary. We can welcome new investment and economic opportunities without sacrificing our identity. To me, Eureka is a small town at heart, and our future should be built around protecting what makes it special while creating opportunities for generations to come.