“We need to plan for the future.”

Jeff McKeown thinks that's the most urgent concern for Coos Bay residents, and it's a task he is eager to pursue.

Surrounded by friends and family Thursday evening, McKeown, who has served on the Coos Bay City Council for the past decade, announced he will seek the office of mayor in the November election.

McKeown, 56, said the city “is on the verge of change,” and that change - and especially in the area of economic development - needs to be planned.

“It's important that we not be so hungry for anything that we're willing to settle for less that what this community deserves,” McKeown said.

The Coos Bay native said things have changed and will change more in the years ahead, and that residents can afford to be particular.

“Sure, we're hungry” for new jobs and clean industry, McKeown said. “But we were hungrier 10 years ago and now we're at the point where we can be selective about the type of jobs we want.”

He said the community should carefully consider the proposed liquefied natural gas facility and ship-recycling interest. “These both come under the category of what we need to be careful about.”

McKeown said he believes it's important to hear from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the U.S. Coast Guard before reaching any conclusions on the LNG proposal, although, he added, the facility and the jobs it would bring would be “a vital catalyst” for future industrial growth.

He said he didn't know enough about ship-breaking, or recycling, to have any definitive opinion about the industry.

“I don't want to endorse it or condemn it without knowing more about it,” he said.

He said he believes the city is doing its best to with the the taxpayers' money.

“The city's not where I'd like it to be, but I think we do a very good job with what we have,” McKeown said.

Staffing levels are not where they should be, he added, and not just in public safety, but in parks, streets and public service departments, as well. He said the council's focus always is on budgeting better, but that the Legislature is the bottom line for the city and its residents.

“We need to keep sending the message to Salem and to our representatives that they need to produce a tax structure that we can live with,” McKeown said.

For six years, McKeown has been the city's representative to the South Coast Development Council, a panel he acknowledges has been controversial. But, he said, pursuing economic development is “the biggest thing we can do to have an effect on our budget.”

He called the SCDC one of the driving forces for the Bay Area's future, adding it has made slow but steady progress in attracting business interest.

“We have a good story to tell here,” McKeown said, “and we're starting to see more interest in commercial development.”

In addition to serving on the SCDC, McKeown has been on the board of the Boys & Girls Club of Southwestern Oregon, serving as president of the panel; and on the board of Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Coos Bay, the Coos County Historical and Maritime Museum and the Coos Art Museum.

Community activism is ingrained in McKeown.

“This community is very important to my wife, Caddy, and to me,” McKeown said. “We both have a lot of history here and a tradition of helping the community. And I have a very strong mother who was very active in the community.

“The nice thing about living in a small community,” McKeown added, “is that you can - one person can - truly make a difference and I think we should.”

If he is successful in November, McKeown will assume the city's top post from current Mayor Joe Benetti, who has said he will not run for re-election (see sidebar). McKeown said Benetti has been a good mayor and that his aim will be to continue the positive work that's being done, especially in planning for growth.

“Finally, people are starting to see what a wonderful place this is to live,” McKeown said. “It's a really wonderful place to live. We're lucky - but we have to be careful.”