It is an incredible honor to serve Springfield as your mayor
“It is an incredible honor to be selected and to serve Springfield as your mayor,” said Interim Mayor Sean VanGordon “I am extremely grateful to the City Council for placing their trust in my leadership. I would like to thank my wife, Elaine, and the wonder twins, Katie and Liv, whose support gives me this great opportunity to serve. To quote, Simon Sinek, ‘Dream Big. Start Small. But most of all start.’ 2020 has been tough on our community, and we have a lot of work to do. I am looking forward to starting that work.”
VanGordon moved to the area to attend the University of Oregon where he earned a Master’s Degree in Economics. Sean serves on the Springfield Economic Development Agency, the Springfield Budget Committee, the HOME Consortium, Lane ACT, the Springfield Legislative Committee, the Springfield Library Board, the Springfield Development Code Update Project Advisory Committee, and the Lane County Poverty & Homeless Board. Sean is married to his high school sweetheart, Elaine, and the father of twin girls, Katie and Livy. His hobbies include watching Ducks sports, reading non-fiction books, following current affairs, gaming, and walks with his Labrador, Trajan.
copy credit: City of Springfield Facebook Page
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2023 State of the City Address
“Courage is part of Springfield’s DNA. We try new things, make tough decisions, and evaluate our next right action. It allows Springfield to adapt, to grow, and to change. The opposite of courage isn’t fear. It’s the status quo. It’s inertia. It’s the way that is safe because we’ve always done it that way. It’s the instinct to keep dreaming and never doing. Courage is about overcoming that. You only need about 30 seconds of courage to take the next right step forward.”
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About Sean
Springfield Oregon Mayor. Passionate about Politics, History and Economics. University of Oregon Grad, and fan of duck football.
Occupation
Director of Industrial Engineering at United Health Group
Springfield Mayor
Family
Elaine, Wife.
Katie, Daughter.
Livy, Daughter.
Education
Master in Economics, University of Oregon
Government Service
- Springfield Mayor (2021 – Present)
- Springfield City Councilor, Ward 1 (2011 – 2021)
- State of Oregon Commission on Transportation Member (2017 – Present)
- Lane Regional Air Protection Authority Board of Directors (2017 – Present)
- City of Springfield Representative, Lane County, Poverty and Homelessness Board (2016 – Present)
- Chair of the Springfield Economic Development Agency (2016 – Present)
- Vice-Chair (2014 – 2016)
- City Council Liaison, Springfield Library Advisory Board (2015 – Present)
- City of Springfield Representative, Catholic Community Services of Lane County G Street Oasis for Homeless Youth Steering Committee (2015 – Present)
- Lane County HOME Consortium Board of Directors (2015 – Present)
- City of Springfield Representative, Lane Council of Government’s Metropolitan Policy Committee (2015 – 2016)
- Springfield Budget Committee (2011 – Present)
- Joint Elected Official Ambulance Service Taskforce (2011 – 2013)
- Lane Council of Government’s Economic Development Committee (2011 – 2012)
- Lane Metro Partnership Board of Directors (2011 – 2012)
- Springfield Finance and Judicial Committee (2011 – 2012)
- Springfield Planning Commission (2008-2011)
- Springfield Historic Commission (2008)
Community
- Springfield Rotary (2011 – Present)
- Light of Liberty Celebration Volunteer, A fundraiser for Springfield Utility Board Project Project SHARE (2008 – 2016)
- Springfield Shelter Rights Alliance Harvest Festival for Human Rights Volunteer (2011)
- Junior Achievement (2008-2010)
- Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Lane County Volunteer (2008-2010)
- UPS-IE United Way Fundraising Committee (2005-2009)
Books
I love to read, and am addicted to non-fiction books. I read mostly historical biographies, foreign policy, histories, and political books. I read multiple books about the same issues to give me multiple perspectives. I believe understanding historical personalities gives a better understanding of current events.
Travel
My wife and I enjoy traveling together. We have a great time walking around historical monuments that I have read about. We like to try local cuisine, and try to find those local gems that don’t appear in tourist handbooks.