Press Release

Astoria, OR- In a stunning defeat for one of the main supporters of a proposed Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) development on the Columbia River, Clatsop County voters have recalled County Commissioner Richard Lee by a 2 to 1 margin.  The vote came just days after he voted to approve Northern Star's controversial Bradwood Landing LNG terminal.  Lee was a long-time political figure, who was Chair of the County Commission until the recall effort was initiated.  The victory was even more impressive since Lee spent over $40,000 trying to defend his seat -- outspending the citizen lead effort to recall him by more than a 6 to 1 margin.  

The success of the recall is a major boost for a coalition of conservation, business and property rights advocates who are opposing LNG and announced last week they would file a ballot measure referendum to overturn the County Commission's approval of the Bradwood LNG terminal.  While the LNG issue was important to many voters, Lee was dogged by a number of other high visibility issues as well, including conflicts he had with the County's planners over his personal development projects.

"There's no question that the LNG project was an important issue for many people in this recall," says Marc Auerbach, a former County Planning Commissioner who was one of the lead organizers for the Lee recall.  "At every public meeting the public was overwhelmingly opposed to the project and yet Lee and the other commissioners ignored public opinion, ignored recommendations of planning staff and went so far as to change county law in order to approve it."

"Clatsop County has sent a clear message that Commissioner Lee and the County Commission is out of touch with local residents," says Lori Durheim who was active in both the recall campaign and the fight against LNG. "There is wide opposition to LNG and this was really the first chance we had to express that opposition in a vote."

"I think this bodes very well for the ballot measure referendum that we are filing to overturn the Commissioners' approval of the Bradwood LNG project," says Don West who is one of the Chief Petitioners for the referendum and is Vice-President for the Columbia River Business Alliance. "Richard Lee and other Commissioners are not just out of touch with the average citizen, but they're also out of touch with how LNG would impact the business community and the heritage and culture of this unique nationally and internationally significant place."     

"I would not be surprised if some of the commissioners are nervous given the results of this recall," says local political activist Larry Taylor, "On issues like LNG they have flatly ignored the public's concerns and comments."

Clatsop County Residents for Common Sense

(503) 755-2415                                         

46692 Old 77 Vesper Lane, Birkenfeld, OR 97016 

For Immediate Release                                     

Contact:

Marc Auerbach (503) 755-2415

Don West (503) 298-9937

###