Seattle Port Commission Announces Open Position

Ports hold a key position within the state of Washington. There are 75 port districts throughout the state (see the Washington Ports report), and most of what residents eat, wear and use come through these ports. Ports do more than just facilitate the distribution of goods, however, as ports also help to move people in and out of the state, and bring vital tourism dollars into the community. Getting involved in the ports industry is intensely rewarding, says Seattle Port Commissioner John Creighton, and King County residents have the opportunity to do just that, as a member of the Seattle port commission is resigning at the end of January of 2013.

Port Commissioner John Creighton is hoping that the selection process for the port commission opening will be quite competitive, attracting many good candidates. The candidate selected will have to stand for election this year in a special election and then again in 2015.  Commissioner Creighton encourages those who are interested in serving the public to apply, even though the hurdles to running for election county-wide may be daunting, as the region needs qualified, dedicated people serving in public office.

Interested parties have until February 1 to submit applications. The commission will review those applications carefully, and select 4-6 finalists for the open seat.  On February 26 and 27, the commission will hold town hall meetings to allow those finalists to introduce themselves to the community and answer questions. A final vote will be held sometime after these meetings, and the new commissioner will take office in March.

Commissioner Creighton holds one of four votes in the selection process, and he's open to applicants of all backgrounds and political affiliations. He's committed to the community and wants to ensure that the right person is found for the job, so a commitment to hard work and personal integrity will rank higher with Commissioner Creighton than almost any other attribute an applicant might possess.

"The commission is currently working on an ambitious 25-year strategic plan that will add some 100,000 new jobs to the region," says Commissioner Creighton. "It's vital that we add the right person to our team, someone who can help us put in place the policies and initiate the projects necessary to meet all of the goals that we have set out for the port. I am confident that many qualified people will apply for the position and that the commission will be able to come to a consensus in choosing the new commissioner.  We look forward to getting to work in 2013 with our new colleague."