Published: Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Herald endorsement / Everett Port Commission
Re-elect effective Wolken
Given its mission of economic development, the Port of Everett has a more critical role to play than most public entities when it comes to fueling local job growth. So the race for one of three seats on its governing commission is one voters shouldn't overlook.
Both candidates, incumbent Mark Wolken and challenger Tom Stiger, bring strong credentials to the table.
Wolken has a long and varied background in government and public affairs, mostly as a consultant serving municipalities. He is steeped in policy experience related to job development, transportation, and industrial and commercial development, and has emerged as a thoughtful leader on the three-person commission.
Stiger is a past commissioner and port president who has been a business owner, spent years working on the waterfront, and had a 27-year career as a teacher and administrator in the Everett School District.
More pertinent is how each sees the future, particularly the challenges and opportunities facing a port that's big enough to have a significant impact on the area's economy, but small enough that it must be measured and realistic about the opportunities it pursues.
On that score, we think Wolken is clearly the better choice.
In two years on the commission (he was elected in 2009 to complete the term of former Commissioner Connie Niva, who resigned after moving out of the port district), he has gained a detailed understanding of complex port issues. He has experience dealing with a wide variety of municipal challenges, including environmental cleanup issues similar to those facing the port today.
He hasn't been afraid to take on contentious issues. He worked to open a broader public discussion about the fate of the 1920s-era Collins Building, laying the port's options out transparently before finally voting to dismantle it. He also supported asking voters whether to expand the commission from three members to five, a move some citizens had lobbied for and which voters eventually rejected.
A future challenge he argues must be faced is whether to expand the port district, either partially or by merging with the Port of Edmonds. The idea would be to increase the district's tax base so it has the capacity to take on projects that can make its chief profit center, the marine terminals, a stronger economic engine that creates more good-paying jobs throughout the county. He admits that asking people to join a new taxing district would be a tough sell, but argues -- rightly, we think -- that the port should launch the discussion and make its business case.
Stiger's priorities focus on building public confidence in the port by making the shipping terminals more profitable and developing the port's waterfront properties. Wolken shares those priorities and more, and puts forth more detailed plans for achieving them.
Both candidates, incumbent Mark Wolken and challenger Tom Stiger, bring strong credentials to the table.
Wolken has a long and varied background in government and public affairs, mostly as a consultant serving municipalities. He is steeped in policy experience related to job development, transportation, and industrial and commercial development, and has emerged as a thoughtful leader on the three-person commission.
Stiger is a past commissioner and port president who has been a business owner, spent years working on the waterfront, and had a 27-year career as a teacher and administrator in the Everett School District.
More pertinent is how each sees the future, particularly the challenges and opportunities facing a port that's big enough to have a significant impact on the area's economy, but small enough that it must be measured and realistic about the opportunities it pursues.
On that score, we think Wolken is clearly the better choice.
In two years on the commission (he was elected in 2009 to complete the term of former Commissioner Connie Niva, who resigned after moving out of the port district), he has gained a detailed understanding of complex port issues. He has experience dealing with a wide variety of municipal challenges, including environmental cleanup issues similar to those facing the port today.
He hasn't been afraid to take on contentious issues. He worked to open a broader public discussion about the fate of the 1920s-era Collins Building, laying the port's options out transparently before finally voting to dismantle it. He also supported asking voters whether to expand the commission from three members to five, a move some citizens had lobbied for and which voters eventually rejected.
A future challenge he argues must be faced is whether to expand the port district, either partially or by merging with the Port of Edmonds. The idea would be to increase the district's tax base so it has the capacity to take on projects that can make its chief profit center, the marine terminals, a stronger economic engine that creates more good-paying jobs throughout the county. He admits that asking people to join a new taxing district would be a tough sell, but argues -- rightly, we think -- that the port should launch the discussion and make its business case.
Stiger's priorities focus on building public confidence in the port by making the shipping terminals more profitable and developing the port's waterfront properties. Wolken shares those priorities and more, and puts forth more detailed plans for achieving them.
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