LCOG Honored by Coburg Mayor Ray Smith’s Public Service

NEWS RELEASE

October 27, 2022

Contact: Brenda Wilson, 541-682-4395, bwilson@lcog.org

(EUGENE, Oregon) – The Lane Council of Governments (LCOG) is honoring Coburg Mayor Ray Smith for his commitment to public service. Mayor Smith passed away Thursday, October 27, 2022, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Ray Smith’s career in local government spanned decades. He was elected to the Coburg City Council and began serving in 2013. He was appointed Mayor in March 2016 and elected for a two-year term in 2018 and 2020. He previously served as Chair of the Coburg Planning Commission in the early 1990s.

He also volunteered for more than 15 years with the Coburg Rural Fire District, retiring as their Assistant Chief in 2003. Ray worked for the Eugene Springfield Fire Department for more than 25 years, retiring in 2018 as a Fire Captain/Paramedic.

Ray was also a long-time member of the Metropolitan Policy Committee, working with the Central Lane Metropolitan Policy Organization (MPO), local government, state and federal agencies, and the public to improve transportation in the Central Lane County region. LCOG is grateful for Ray’s many contributions to the Lane County community.

He always attended the Mayor’s Roundtable, a group facilitated by LCOG, to share the latest news about Coburg with the mayors of Lane County. He served as a member of the LCOG Board of Directors since 2018.

“Mayor Smith was a dedicated public servant who cared deeply for our region and was passionate about making a difference in his community. Even with his failing health, he was still committed to carry out his mayoral duties and honor the trust the public put in him. He is gone far too soon,” said Brenda Wilson, Lane Council of Governments Executive Director.

Ray was an outstanding leader in the community. The City of Coburg thrived under his leadership. He will be greatly missed.

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About Lane Council of Governments

LCOG’s mission is to coordinate and provide high quality public services in Lane County. Lane Council of Governments is dedicated to serving the public interest and enhancing the quality of life for citizens of Lane County. LCOG serves as a regional planning, coordination, program development, and service delivery organization in local communities across Lane County. Learn more at www.lcog.org.