As Port Commissioner, John Creighton is a
public figure in Seattle, and he must run for election in order to obtain the
job. As a result, people might be familiar with his name, and they might even
be familiar with his face. However, it's also quite likely that people don't
really understand what a port is, and what a commissioner is asked to do in
order to help improve the port. This quick article may help to alleviate some
confusion.
The Port of Pasco
describes a port as a, " … municipal corporation, organized under state
law and authorized by a majority vote of the residents in the proposed district
... The District can be as large as an entire county or as small as a city or
town; its boundaries are defined when it is formed." A port, in other
words, is an independent government agency that has specific borders that are
defined by state law and voted upon by local communities. Under Washington
State law, port districts also are governed by elected boards of
commissioners. Describing the governing
structure makes a port just a bit easier to understand, but John Creighton says
a quick peek at the operations of a typical port might make the distinction
even more clear. The 75 public port districts in Washington State operate cargo
terminals, cruise terminals, railroad and barge depots, grain silos, marinas,
conference centers, tourism and recreational facilities among other operations [note: see
www.washigtonports.org]
A portcommissioner, John Creighton says, is a member of a board that's asked to oversee
policymaking and budgeting for a port. It's an elected position, and at the
Port of Seattle, those positions last for four years. Each commissioner has a
vital role to play in setting policies for the Port of Seattle.
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