Astoria City Council Races: Who's It Going To Be for You?

Henningsgaard Announces he will not continue to seek re-election but will pursue open Astoria City Attorney Job Instead

Well, here's the list of candidates for 2010 elections for open seats on Astoria City Council.

This is an open call for all candidates to post their Press Releases or views as to why they feel they can serve the citizens of Astoria best and what they can bring to the game to lead us forward to a prosperous future and improved life quality.

Mayor

Willis L. Van Dusen
(Incumbent Mayor Van Dusen's Campaign Statement)
"I am running for re-election as Mayor of the City of Astoria. The next four years will be important to all of us. I ask for your support on November 2nd.
As the Mayor of Astoria over the past four years, I have worked as part of a team on many successful projects. Some of those projects include:
1) Supporting the officers in the Astoria Police Department.
2) Supporting the Firefighters in the Astoria Fire Department. The City Council and I congratulate the department for securing a $ 238,000 grant that enabled the city to purchase of a fire truck.
3) Re-organizing the Parks and Recreation Department. The consolidation of facilities and personnel has made us more efficient.
4) Our community has done an excellent job in improving the financial situation of the Astoria Aquatic Center.
5) Supported our Public Works Department to improve our drinking water and manage the combined sewer overflow project
6) Drafted plans to renovate our City Hall
7) Expanded our world class river walk
8) Serving as President of the Astoria Riverfront Trolley Association.
9) We worked closely with governmental agencies, such as the Astoria Schools, neighboring cities, the Military, Oregon State Agencies etc.
10) Established a street paving/repair program
The next four years have many challenges:
1) Astoria’s Bi-Centennial
2) Completing our Chinese educational park, "The Garden of Surging Waves"
3) City Hall Renovation
4) Rebuilding the athletic fields at Tapiola Park
5) Community Center in the former Armory at 17th and Duane St.
6) Rebuilding the 17th Street Dock with transportation grant funds
7) Work with businesses creating and saving jobs
8) Provide a new library through renovation or construction
9) Communicate clearly with all Astorians
10) Support our local schools
If we continue to work as a community team, Astoria will always be a great place to live and raise our families.
Thank you
Willis L. Van Dusen

Bonnie Anne Wingard (Challenger)

Ward 1

Arline LaMear
(Incumbent LaMear's Campaign Statement)
Arline LaMear – Councilor, City of Astoria Ward 1
288 Franklin Ave.
Astoria, OR 97103
alamear@astoria.or.us

Occupation
Librarian, Columbia River Maritime Museum, 1997-Present

Occupational background
School Librarian, Virginia Public Schools, 21 years
Teacher – California, North Carolina and Thailand, 4 years

Educational background
Occidental College, BA, Education
James Madison University, M.Ed, Education

Prior Government Experience
Astoria City Council, 2008-Present; Astoria Parks and Recreation Board, 2010; Astoria Planning Commission, 2003-2008; Clatsop County Commission on Children and Families, 2004-2007; Astoria Library Board, 2002; Chair of the Bicentennial Legacy Committee, 2009-Present

Candidate Statement

A job with the Columbia River Maritime Museum brought me to Astoria in 1997. Thirteen years later, my commitment to Astoria, her river, history and community has deepened. It has been a real honor to serve as City Councilor from Ward 1 the past two years. I have met with many of you on issues and concerns and pledge that I will continue to listen and act in your behalf.

Astoria will celebrate her Bicentennial in 2011. Working with our wonderful city staff and workforce, I will support continuing efforts to replace our bridges that are in poor condition, pave our streets, relocate the temporary water and sewer lines at Hume and Bond Streets, renovate our City Hall, and spruce up our downtown so Astoria looks her best for her 200th birthday.

I plan to:
Actively advocate for you and Astoria’s Ward One.
Work for the opening of a Recreation Center in Astoria for children and adults.
Advocate for an ordinance regarding derelict buildings that includes a firm, fair enforcement component.
Evaluate energy cost saving measures and implement viable alternatives.
Ensure that Astoria has a state of the art, modern library.

Committees/Membership/Volunteerism
Court-Appointed Advocate (CASA) – 2001-Present
American Association of University Women (AAUW) – President 2005-2006
Organizer and moderator for candidate and issue forums, AAUW and Women’s Political Caucus
Astoria-Warrenton Chamber of Commerce – 2003-Present
Lower Columbia Preservation Society
Friends of the Columbia River Maritime Museum
Clatsop County Historical Society

Endorsed by:

John Goodenberger
Karen Kenyon
Virginia (Gin) Laughery
Roy Little, M.D.
Laura Snyder
Helen Westbrook

Robert E. Howard (Challenger)

Ward 3

Blair Henningsgaard (Incumbent)

Henningsgaard Will Not Seek Re-Election But Will Seek Open Astoria City Attorney Job

I am running for re-election to the Astoria City Council Ward 3 and ask for your vote in November.

I can describe my past service to the City in three categories.
Emergency Events.
Hurricane, December of 2007. I am proud of the teamwork and courage of our community’s response.
Landslide at 1st and Commercial Street, April 2007. Our team ensured access, re-routed utilities, responded to citizens’ needs and obtained State and Federal assistance.
Routine (but critical) City Services
We lined and covered our reservoirs. These two changes help protect our drinking water supply with one result that the City uses fewer chemicals to treat our water.
Expensive sewer improvements are helping keep our river and bay clean. I helped spur negotiations that are expected to save over $10 million on this project.
A street paving/repair program was adopted for the first time in our history; funded with help from tourist tax dollars and state funds.
Successes.
Developing highly visible city council goals.
Representing the City Council on our award winning Riverfront vision.
Plans to make Astoria City Hall the most “customer friendly” in the county.
Saving the City over $300,000 per year at the Astoria Aquatic Center.
Acquiring the old Safeway block.
Replacing the Astoria Column steps.

I commit to economically provide needed services but also look forward to developing a new library, recycling the Astoria Armory, opening our Chinese Park and turning the old American Legion block into a public plaza.

I hope the Citizens of Astoria know how much my hometown means to me. We live in a special place; together we will keep it that way.

Karen Mellin (Challenger)

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, September 1, 2010

For More Information:Karen Mellin
(503) 325-5382

Karen Mellin for Astoria Ward 3 Astoria, Oregon

“I am running because Astorians need achoice,” says candidate Mellin. "I've never been afraid to speak my mind and I think Astoria is a real treasure that deserves outspoken protection."

Mellin served most recently on the Clatsop Community College Board of Directors and before that was instrumental in developing the organization now known as the Women's Resource Center.

She said she felt the values of the particularly historic district of Ward 3 needed a new voice.

"When citizens spend months of time on a public project like the River Visioning process, they deserve to have those concerns taken seriously," Mellin said."Too many people have told me they felt the City Council listened and then imposed its own voice on that process."

Mellin also expressed concern over the what she called "the continuous mishandling of DUII cases in the Astoria Municipal Court." She said that"Municipal Courts play a valuable role in dispensing community justice, but Astoria should join the other four cities in the counties in sending their DUII cases to the Circuit Court where both the judges and prosecutors are full-time professionals.""Something's not right when someone can get two or three DUIIs dismissed just because the case is in Municipal Court. Like the River Visioning process, it is a matter of fairness."

"While we appreciate the work done over the years by the incumbent," Mellin said, "I think people are ready for a change.

"Mellin just celebrated the 50th reunion of her graduating class at AstoriaHigh School.

She spent many years traveling overseas and moved back toAstoria 30 years ago and taught in the local schools until last year.

Karen Mellin's Astoria-based volunteerism began in 1986 as a programmer atKMUN.

She has been a member of the North Coast Women’s Political Caucussince 1987. That year she began volunteering at the Clatsop County Women’s Crisis Service, where she set up group counseling sessions for victims of domestic violence and soon became Executive Director.

In 2001, she waselected to the Clatsop Community College Board, where she advocated renovation of the historic property.

Ward 3 is roughly bound by 5th and 28th Streets, the Columbia River on thenorth and Niagara Avenue on the south, and is equivalent to county precincts5 and 6.

The Committee to Elect Karen Mellin, Astoria Ward 3