Austinites (current and former) are well represented on the short list of six semifinalists released today for the new city of Austin position of chief sustainability officer. The candidates will have formal interviews next week; they will meet the public and answer questions at community meetings June 3.

Current Austinites:
• Brandi Clark, Founder and Chief Inspiration Officer, Austin EcoNetwork; Founder, Citizen Gardener; Founder/President, EcoNetwork – Austin.
• Natalie Marquis, General Manager, Habitat Suites Hotel; Executive Director, Texas Solar Energy Society – Austin.

Former Austinites:
• Matt Watson, currently Energy Policy Specialist, Environmental Defense Fund – Washington, D.C. (He was aide to Mayor Will Wynn, with major responsibilities for the Austin Climate Protection Plan, and other environmental/sustainability initiatives.)
• Lucia Athens, Senior Sustainable Futures Strategist, CollinsWoerman architecture, planning and interior design firm – Seattle. (She got her master’s degree at UT, helped develop the City of Austin Green Builder Program, led the City of Seattle’s green building program for ten years, and recently authored Building an Emerald City)

National Candidates:
• Dennis Murphey, Chief Environmental Officer – City of Kansas City, Mo.
• Beth Pratt, Director of Environmental Affairs, Xanterra Parks & Resorts at Yellowstone – Yellowstone National Park, Wyo.

The June 3 public sessions will be from 2:30-4 pm and 5-7pm at Town Lake Center, 721 Barton Springs Rd., Room 130. City Manager Marc Ott will consider public comments when making a final selection. A national search conducted by Affion Public since February drew 185 applicants.

According to a press release from the city, the Sustainability Officer will “develop, coordinate, and administer” a full-spectrum program for both the municipality and the community. Issues will include green house gas reduction; renewable resources; development patterns and transportation; green purchasing; municipal cost savings through integrated programs; energy, water and resource conservation; solid waste recycling; green building; government funding; and environmental reporting metrics.

This article appears in May 28 • 2010.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US