News staff writer

Cascade Locks Mayor Roger Freeborn is stepping down from his elected position by mid-September to pursue a new career opportunity.

Freeborn will be relocating to the Willamette Valley for a new mechanic job. Under the city charter, he cannot serve out the remaining three months of his unexpired term if he lives in another community.

He will be replaced until Dec 31 by Council President Cindy Mitchell, who is also leaving office at the end of the year.

“If there was a way that I could stay mayor without being a resident of Cascade Locks I would certainly do that. But it just isn’t possible,” said Freeborn.

He admitted to frustration that, since taking office in January 2007, he has been unable to bring resolution to two highly controversial issues:

n The construction of a $1.7-plus million emergency services center that lacks at least $495,000 of the necessary funding.

n The city’s sale of two acres of land known as McCoy Meadows for medium-density housing units.

Freeborn campaigned to build a new fire station without added cost to taxpayers. He wanted the facility paid for with a $700,000 state grant, plus any matching dollars that were necessary to qualify for the grant.

He was also opposed to the city selling off land that abuts the undeveloped Toothrock Park. Freeborn wanted to see the parcel used as a park that would attract visitors and provide more recreational opportunities for citizens. He believed the city had other sites more appropriate for residential use.

Both projects were already underway when Freeborn and three new councilors took office.

“This council got dealt a very tough hand to play and there was nothing that we could do about it,” he said.

“We thought that we could do something about these issues but monies had already been spent and legally things were already in process.”

Freeborn had previously served as mayor from 2000-03, when he resigned due to illness. He regained his health and came back on the political scene in 2006, when he beat out a field of five candidates for the mayoral role.

His term began on the heels of a recall vote involving two councilors who had supported the McCoy project. The electorate took Rob Brostoff and Lee Kitchens out of office for supporting that deal. Mayor Ralph Hesgard, who also voted in favor of the proposal, was not included in the recall because he was stepping down at the end of 2006.

“I was recently trying to find the bright side in all of this and I realized that I’m now experienced at dealing with no-win situations,” said Freeborn.

He believes the current acrimony that exists between some citizens and the government is tied to the two controversial issues. He said disenfranchised residents are trying to make their voices heard at the ballot box.

He said it is difficult to walk away from the city at a time of crisis. Two citizen initiatives on the November general election ballot are intended to limit powers of the local government.

“It’s been very stressful, I’ll admit that; but I’m really going to miss being here,” said Freeborn.

Councilors Tom Brazille and Darrel Driver, like Mitchell and Freeborn, did not file for re-election. The remaining seated officials are: Tom Cramblett, Randy Holmstrom and Kerry Osbourn.

Freeborn believes there is a “casino versus no casino” lineup among the candidates currently seeking a two-year term as mayor or a four-year tenure in one of the three open council positions.

Vying for mayor are Bobbi Walker and Brad Lorang. The eight contenders for council seats are: Brostoff, Hesgard, Tiffany Pruitt, Richard Randall, Michael “Cody” Steelman, Kevin Benson, Mimi Morissette and Lance Masters. Resident Don Haight filed as a candidate but then withdrew from the race.