Commissioner Bob Austin

Bob Austin was sworn into the office of Clackamas County Commissioners on January 8, 2009.  As Mayor of Estacada from 1999 to 2008, Bob oversaw the creation of several water and wastewater infrastructure systems improvement projects, the passage of a construction bond for a new public library, and the formation of a downtown urban renewal district.  

Bob has served on numerous local and regional committees as an Estacada Community Foundation board member and as a mayor. He also served on several regional and statewide boards and planning committees, including the League of Oregon Cities, Metro’s Reserve Process Steering Committee, Metro‘s Policy Advisory Committee and the Mt. Hood Economic Alliance. 

Bob received an undergraduate degree in Biology from King’s College, Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in Biology from Central Michigan University. He has completed graduate-level coursework in Public Administration at Lewis & Clark College.

Bob’s professional background is extensively linked to environmental awareness and protection. He began his career as a biologist at Everglades National Park in Homestead, Florida from 1978 to 1988 and worked as a fishery biologist for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services from 1988 to 1998. From 1998 until retiring in 2008, he worked as Deputy Director, Fish & Wildlife, Bonneville Power Administration.  

Bob lives in Estacada, a rural city with an abundance of agriculture, forest products and rural types of industries.  He brings both fisheries experience and representation of rural Clackamas County interests.  Bob’s background at natural resource management brings a valuable area of expertise to the board.