Endorsements

I'm honored to have received many important endorsements in this race-- our current mayor, Linda Streich, former mayors Paul Cummings and Steve Gates, and all the people who've put my signs on their lawns. This weekend I earned the endorsement of The Hood River News:

Our Picks Hood River Mayor: Arthur Babitz

October 25, 2008 The Hood River News' editorial board is urging a vote for Arthur Babitz as our town's next mayor. Babitz is an articulate businessman and a valuable member of the city council. He is the best choice to set the political tone for the city, as it continues to evolve as the recreational and agricultural hub of the Gorge — and as it experiences belt-tightening similar to that occurring from Astoria to Burns, from Brookings to Enterprise, and many points in between. That's not to say Babitz's opponent, Bob Palmer, isn't qualified to be mayor. (Indeed, Palmer served as mayor in the 1990s.) In fact, Hood River voters are in a unique position, having two willing candidates who are highly qualified to serve in the city's highest political office. Both are personable; both are proven community stewards. Palmer brings to the job more than a half century of knowledge as a public employee and a volunteer. Palmer retired as the city's fire marshal in the early 1990s. He is a veteran volunteer with the Lions Club and has a knack of making strangers feel like long-lost friends. Babitz can't match Palmer's years of service, but he is equally as personable and has displayed a similar passion for his hometown since moving here more than a decade ago. The demands on a small-town mayor vary from city to city. Hood River's unique setting in the Columbia River Gorge and closeness to Mount Hood bring it more attention than arguably most Oregon cities of around 7,000 people. The New York Times wants a comment on kite boarding or windsurfing and it seeks out the mayor. The Seattle Times needs a reaction to a climbing incident (and the sheriff isn't available) and it looks up the mayor. What's more, in Hood River there are many partnerships between public and private entities, and public and public entities. We have the city, the county, the Port of Hood River, the Gorge Commission, along with the state of Oregon, school district and others. A higher percentage of our business and commerce depends on the working relationships between these groups. We also have a diverse group of business and industry, including countless "home-based" businesses. Babitz recognizes the importance of having those businesses included in the political process. Consensus building is a trait Babitz has displayed as a city councilor since 2006. He is comfortable in different settings, whether dealing with business clients on a worldwide basis or making "cold calls" on neighborhoods. Both candidates know the value of a strong working relationship between the city and Port of Hood River. The Port's plans for the waterfront will affect the face of Hood River for eternity. Babitz has shown he can identify areas that need to be streamlined and then work through the process to make sure they get done. For example, by studying the budget he came to the conclusion that the city was draining its own reserve funds for water and sewer by charging administrative fees. It's not in the best interest of the city to eliminate reserve funds that would be needed in an emergency. At first glance, one might think Palmer has more time to give to the city. He's retired and admits he needs something to keep busy. But Babitz owns his business, which offers him flexibility. Babitz is an engineer, so his acute curiosity to see how things work is not surprising. That said, he has spent hours researching audit reports and budgets; he has demonstrated he is willing to put in the time. A duo ticket — Palmer's institutional knowledge combined with Babitz's business acumen and attention to detail — would be best for Hood River. But that's not possible. We hope Palmer continues to be an advocate for our community; we hope Babitz is the town's next mayor.