West Seattle Blog… | ELECTION 2021: One last look at Seattle Port Commission candidates

From Tracy Record
West Seattle blog editor

Most of the spotlight this election season has shone on the Seattle City candidates. But that’s not all you’ll find on your ballot (if you’re one of the 80% or over local voters whose ballot has not yet been cast). You have 17 choices – including three races for Seattle Port Commission.

Five commissioners, all elected nationwide, make up the board, which is in office for four years. This year positions 1, 3 and 4 are available. In each race, the incumbent and a challenger competed for the seat, so there were no primary elections – all six candidates went straight to the general election. Five of them took part in an online forum on Thursday evening Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition and Seattle Parks Foundation – for position 1, first term incumbent Ryan Calkins; for position 3, two-time incumbent Stephanie Bowman and King County Political Advisor Hamdi Mohamed; and for position 4, first term incumbent Peter Steinbrück and Executive Director of the State Commission on Asia Pacific American Affairs Toshiko Grace Hasegawa.

DRCC managing director Paulina Lopez organized together with SPF CEO Rebecca Bear. In the opening comments they pointed out the enormity of the Seattle HarborEffects on our region, both seaport and airport operations. The forum was allotted only one hour, so that after introductory opening statements, questions were randomly asked to one or more participants. What we wrote below is our summary / paraphrasing of the questions and answers, no direct quotation marks unless they are denoted as such by quotation marks.

****QUESTION: Port communities have a lower life expectancy due to air pollution. How do you balance that with competitive pressures?

LIMES: We have accelerated the climate effort. This week we moved the goals to 2040 instead of 2050. We have to “electrify everything”. Land-based technology is here. Waiting for federal funding for the switch from diesel to electric. There’s a 30-year waterfront plan in Seattle to electrify everything.

ARCHER: Also with regard to Terminal 5, note that it has a docking rail, “essential … to get trucks off the road”. And it has shore power. Proponents of the development towards emission-free drayage trucks (short-haul transport). Also, the port has created its own rainwater supplier, the only port in the state that does this.

****QUESTION: Port has been working on opening up. to support Maritime high school. As port commissioner, how would you support the youth of the BIPOC community near the port and airport?

MOHAMED: She is on the advisory board of Maritime HS. “Right now … we are seeing increasing demand for shipping everywhere … and there is a huge labor shortage,” and now they are educating the youth about this industry and its well-paying jobs, “Pathways to Employment”. Must protect the environment and education for young people.

LIMES: (After Bowman gave him her time and said he “created” Maritime HS) “We need these children to strengthen our workforce” – also mentions the labor shortage in the ferry system.

****QUESTION: López addresses the “triple threat” to the Duwamish River: what would you do to protect it and ensure it was completely cleared?

HASEGAWA: She fished in the Duwamish when she was growing up. Now she sees “fun to catch but toxic to eat” campaigns. recognizes the gap in life expectancy; “This is literally a matter of life and death.” Needs to support the full purge, wants an agreement with the tribes.

STONE BRIDGE: He said he campaigned for the purge even before the Record of Decision when he was on the Seattle city council in 2014. He also has a long family history with the river.

****QUESTION: Port is a great agency. How do you ensure that your values ​​as a commissioner are lived out in day-to-day business?

LIMES: He has a whiteboard with the motto “Remember who is not at the table”. Hoping to introduce a community advisory board with community insights “about everything” soon.

ARCHER: Don’t be afraid to ask difficult questions. The port workers are “wonderful professionals”. But they can always be more responsive.

****QUESTION: What about mandatory environmental justice and the diversion of funds into overburdened communities?

HASEGAWA: Supports the allocation of funds – mentions a current fund that is “really just a drop in the ocean”. You have to proactively direct money for “greening”. It is important not to destroy green spaces.

STONE BRIDGE: Long campaigned for CO2 emissions to be viewed as pollutants. Talks about groups that invest funds and are open to expanding foundations Hasegawa alluded to.

****QUESTION: You are in charge of many lots and green spaces. How will you prioritize environmental protection and anti-displacement?

MOHAMED: She will be proactive, not reactive. She mentions that she is against turning North SeaTac Park into a parking lot.

****CONCLUDE: López invited them to explain how they would prioritize health and wellbeing by accelerating towards achievements including zero emissions.

LIMES: It’s really expensive, but the port is in a good place right now … we’re getting out of the pandemic pretty much unscathed so we can invest … Ask voters to select transformative candidates who will “vote for the future”.

MOHAMED: You need to think more about how to protect affected communities. The port has done a lot of good, “but more has to be done”. She would be present in the community, working with people and making sure that they were “invited to the table”.

STONE BRIDGE: When he first ran almost four years ago, he looked at the heat map of the affected communities. Believes the port is doing more than most other governments to address inequalities and problems. He initiated a tree inventory. Well, a country stewardship policy. We are making progress if we plant 100,000 more trees.

ARCHER: Their vision is for the port to have the lowest carbon footprint of any port in the US. Can build “the port of the future”.

HASEGAWA: People with lived experience must be chosen. She spoke to historically marginalized communities. Says her opponent takes business money. It prioritizes the health of people and the planet.

Put your ballots in a King County Dropbox by 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, or in the USPS mailbox early enough that day to be postmarked November 2nd.

ELECTION 2021: One last look at Seattle Port Commission candidates

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