Austin launches campaign for county commissioner position

Former Estacada mayor aims to win 2010 primary

By Evan Jensen

The Estacada News, Nov 18, 2009

AUSTIN

Submitted photo / Estacada News

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Clackamas County Commissioner and former Estacada Mayor Bob Austin hosted a campaign kickoff on Nov. 12 at the Spiral Gallery and was joined by dozens of supporters who attended the event.

Austin ended his 10-year term as mayor in Estacada at the close of 2008 and was formerly appointed to the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners Jan. 8, 2009. His kickoff campaign at the Spiral Gallery begins his effort to win the majority vote in the primaries next year.

The Clackamas County Board of Commissioners is a five-member non-partisan commission, currently chaired by Commissioner Lynn Peterson, elected in 2006. Austin was appointed to the Board late last year, as was Commissioner Ann Lininger. County Commissioners Jim Bernard and Charlotte Lehan were both elected in November 2008.

“Each commissioner represents the entire breadth and depth of Clackamas County,” Austin said. “We’re a microcosm of the state with very rural areas and metro areas and that’s something I enjoy about this work. There’s a lot of issues to look at such as job creation and retention, renewable energy and a lot of other things.”

Shortly after being appointed in January 2009, Austin recognized a need to visit with residents in the more rural parts of Clackamas County. In the 11 months since he took office, Austin has traveled from Welches, Molino and Estacada to Canby, The Villages and other rural areas, to listen to the diversity of ideas and issues throughout the county.

“It’s really exciting to be part of the process to figure out solutions to problems, develop partnerships with folks and work with people to understand the issues we are facing,” Austin said.

Austin said he plans to launch a campaign website and will host a number of other campaign fundraising events, including small home gatherings and larger business-sponsored events, beginning in 2010.

“I like giving back to the community,” Austin said. “I spent a lot of time looking at community issues as mayor, and I think there are a lot of similarities at the county level. Whether you live in a rural area or in the city, you still want to have jobs, good transportation, public safety and safe streets. We all want the same things, and at the same time, different parts of the county have different needs.”