Jacob Cottingham
Policy Director
Jacob grew up in Louisville, Kentucky and has a B.A. in Literature from Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY. While there, he was the Editor-in-Chief of the Bard Observer.
After graduating, Jacob moved to Savannah, Georgia. There, he was the Executive Editor and Publisher of Savannah Snitch, a weekly newspaper focused on crime. Next he served as the founding and managing editor of the South magazine (http://ww2.thesouthmag.com), also in Savannah. While working there, he guided the publication to a dozen awards in its first year of publication from the Magazine Association of the Southeast, including one for his own column, “Stars of the South” and for Best Single Issue.
In 2007, Jacob and Catherine, his then-girlfriend sold their belongings and used car and bought a 1972 Airstream Land Yacht. They lived inside the vintage trailer and travelled the country for the year with Jacob working as a freelance writer while Catherine launched a jewelry line, Catherine Nicole. After months on the road they liked Austin the most and moved here at the end of the year. They were married in 2009.
Jacob worked as a freelance reporter for various area publications and covered local government and environmental issues for In Fact Daily. Intrigued by the problems facing the region, he embarked on a career shift towards policy and earned a Master’s in Public Affairs at the LBJ School at the University of Texas. While attending school, he spent time working for Austin Energy’s Commercial Green Building division as he moved away from journalism.
During the 82nd Texas Legislative Session Jacob served as a policy analyst for Rep. Mark Strama and staffed the Energy Resources Committee in addition to working on energy and environmental policy. The office was recognized for its work by the Texas League of Conservation voters as one of the top five best legislators of the session.
Jacob works on water, transportation and land use policy for Commissioner Huber.
HOME
COMMISSIONER
STAFF
LEGISLATIVE
CALENDAR
CONTACT US
COUNTY CONTACTS
INPUT
COMMENTARY
2009 YEAR REVIEW
SNAPSHOTS
Austin Chronicle
May 4, 2012
Courting Change--
Travis County needs a new civil and family courthouse--and a new way of doing business.
YNN
April 4, 2012
Democrats in Travis County Precinct 3 race focus on traffic, water
Community Impact News
February 29, 2012
County passes laws to protect aquifer
Austin Business Journal
February 21, 2012
Forecast: Lake Travis area to see positive growth in 2012
Community Impact News
February 17, 2012
Lake Travis Economic Forecast shows positive growth for tax revenues
Lake Travis View
February 15, 2012
Efforts Underway to
Help Central Texans
Prepare for
Fire Season
Lake Travis View
February 11, 2012
County Digs into
Well Regulations
Austin American Statesman
January 19, 2012
STAR Flight basing a helicopter, crew at Dell Children's
Austin American Statesman
December 28, 2011
Travis County park purchase to add access to Perdernales River
Austin American Statesman/ Westlake Picayune
December 28, 2011
New Stop Light on
Bee Cave Road
Community Impact
November 11,2011
LCRA board bans floating habitable structures
Texas Tribune
October 27, 2011
Drought's Economic
Impact Spreading
Across Texas
Austin American Statesman
October 18, 2011
Drought hurting Lake Travis businesses
Community Impact
October 4, 2011
Commissioners aim to
better coordinate
fire information
Austin American Statesman
October 4, 2011
Travis County seeks to
improve disaster
response
North Shore Beacon
September 26, 2011
Coffee with the Commissioner
Community Impact
September 23, 20111
Redistricting changes
local representation
KXAN-TV News
September 20, 2011
911 System
needs your cell number
KVUE-TV News
September20, 2011
Travis Coounty
approves re-appraisals
for fire victims
KVUE-TV News
September20, 2011
Reappraising of
fire-damaged property
under consideration
Westlake Picayune
June 20, 2011
Travis County:
Burn ban includes
all fireworks
Texas Tribune
June21, 2011
As Texas Lake Levels Fall, Residents Fret
Impact News
June 17,2011
Austin, Tavis County
Celebrate
Balcones Canyonland
Preservation Plan
Oak Hill Gazette
May 26, 2011
Officals, residents assess concerns in the aftermath of fire
YNN
May 24, 2011
Lake Travis floating condos voted down
Community Impact Newspaper
May 24, 2011
Commissioners Court bans floating
habitable structures on
Lake Travis
KXAN-TV
May 24, 2011
"Vote: No to floating houses on Lake Travis"
Impact News
March 3, 2011
Redesign Coming to Y at Oak Hill
KVUE-TV
March 3, 2011
Plans for Oak Hill Intersection Improvements Announced
Submitted to
Austin American Statesman
August, 2010
Op-Ed
Where's the
Truth-o-Meter?
Austin American Statesman
June 14, 2010
Op-Ed
Trust and Credibility
Impact News.com
Lake Travis/ Westlake
March 5, 2010
Karen Huber Profile
Lake Travis View
News Report 2/18/2010
"Road Gives Lakeway
Access to Texas 71"
Austin Chronicle
News Report 1/15/10
"Army Saves the Day"
Austin
American-Statesman Op-Ed Commentary
"Air Quality "
KVUE-TV, Austin
News Report 9/9/08
"Billboard Controversy Along Highway 71"
Austin
American-Statesman
Op-Ed Commentary "Highway Signage"
