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By RAELYNN RICARTE
News staff writer
September 2, 2006
A lone citizen has stepped forward to
challenge three incumbents for one of the at-large seats on the Hood River
City Council.
Electrical engineer Arthur Babitz filed this week against Councilors Paul
Blackburn, Martin Campos-Davis and Carrie Nelson. Mayor Linda Streich is
running for a second term unopposed in the Nov. 7 general election.
Babitz, who operates Animation Toolworks, Inc., from his Hazel Avenue
home, believes his strong analytical abilities will help overcome the
city’s budget woes. He also sees his experience of leading software and
hardware development teams at several major firms — without micro-managing
— as a plus for an elected leader.
“Just by running I’m guaranteeing a real discussion of the issues,” said
Babitz. “I could have waited for a council member to resign and then apply
for the position, but I think a real race will be a good antidote for
cynicism.”
Blackburn and Campos-Davis are running for their first elected four-year
term. Blackburn was appointed in November of 2004 to fill a vacancy
created by the departure of Paul Thompson. Campos-Davis was chosen in
January 2005 to take the seat vacated by Streich after she assumed the
role of mayor.
Nelson was appointed to the council in 1998 and then won two subsequent
elections. |
