What is your record of public service?
It is with great enthusiasm I am seeking a 2nd term to continue to advocate for the Port’s core mission: to create and retain family-wage jobs and encourage economic development. I am immensely proud to have been a part of the process and the outcome of amazing initiatives throughout my 21-year career as a port employee and now Commissioner. I have a track record of balancing economics with a healthy environment. I am the only candidate who has a career dedicated to the Port industry, served in elected positions, and has the experience representing our Port along with all 75 ports statewide. In my first term, I brought initiatives forward that stimulated our economy during Covid, brought additional career jobs to Anacortes, advanced environmental stewardship and was elected by my statewide peers as President of the Washington Public Ports Association. I am honored to be the first Commissioner for our Port to serve in this position.
How would you address what you see as the three major issues facing the port?
Rational/analytical permitting and regulatory predictability at the local, state, and federal levels. Permitting stalemates translates to lost opportunity and real dollars that affect our community. Taking an active seat at the table to resolve the stalemates and disputes with transparent honesty no matter how hard the message, is what I am committed to. This leads to another issue that will be resolved similarly, keeping a focus on the long-term (the short-term tactical issues are easy). Imperative to not react to the flavor or drama of the day and balance the needs of 27,000 residents. Lastly, but not least, the lack of industrial land and development costs, it isn’t just a residential issue. One piece that helps mitigate the residential issue is the availability of local robust career opportunities and variety. My commitment to create and retain family-wage jobs is linked to protecting and developing areas for career job growth and retention.
What part should your district play in your area’s environmental health?
The Port of Anacortes has been uniquely positioned and has a track record of leading on the environmental front, in my opinion, no other port has done so much environmental work in relation to its revenues, overseeing $64 million dollars in environmental cleanups over the past 12 years. I remain committed to continuous environmental improvement. I mentioned the concept of Seabins when I first ran 4 years ago, I am happy to report that they are now in our marina. Economic development and environmental stewardship are not mutually exclusive. Having been a part of this process and outcome when it comes to environmental work has been an immensely rewarding journey that I plan to continue championing, as there is more to come. One current example is Green Marine, a voluntary, non-regulatory environmental program. Participants are evaluated on a rubric of eight environmental indicators such as greenhouse gas & air pollution, spills & stormwater, and community impacts.
How, if at all, will the changing climate affect your port and its environs?
The Port has for years considered the changing climate, for example, new areas of our esplanade was/is programmed with sea level rise assumptions. Rain (not overall) but the heavier high rain events is something we are seeing and impacts for example stormwater, and we are addressing this issue. We now purchase Green Energy and have done LED retrofits. Currently we are assessing and looking towards electrifying our marine terminals with a specific focus on the viability and funding of shore to ship power. I mentioned our participation in Green Marine which kicked off in 2019, one of the initiatives is Greenhouse Gases (GHG) and Air Pollution which are our top near-term goals for the port to focus on. A well-reasoned GHG inventory and analysis gives the port data that can support other improvements and funding opportunities.
What should your district do to address the revenue shortfalls resulting from the COVID-19 crisis?
This past year and a half of Covid has highlighted that we are committed to economic development at a time of crisis. I am proud to have played a part in awarding $11 million dollars in contracts that employed approximately 40 contractors & consultants last year. Additionally, $1 million in maintenance and repair dollars were spent in 2020 that benefited approximately 50 contractors, suppliers, and vendors. I was resolved to not pull back but to inject real dollars into our community, our tax base, and businesses in order to play a major role in our local economic recovery. Additionally, I was delighted to have been a part of authorizing the purchase of property on March’s Point which now house 6 tenants and their associated jobs, the site is full, and more career jobs are coming to that site. There is much more to do and much more to come when it comes to job creation and economic development.
