Published: Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Voters leaning toward Stiger in Port of Everett race
EVERETT -- Voters appeared inclined to put a new face on the Port of Everett commission, giving challenger Tom Stiger a strong lead in Tuesday's election returns.
Stiger drew 55 percent, or 6,580 votes, in the vote count Tuesday night, which is expected to be less than half of the final turnout. Incumbent Mark Wolken grabbed 44 percent, or 5,265 votes, in the early returns in the Position 2 race.
Wolken, a business consultant who is serving as commission chairman this year, was filling out the term of Commissioner Connie Niva, who moved out of the district.
Tuesday's election was for a full, six-year term on the nonpartisan commission.
Stiger, an Everett businessman, is retired from a career with the Everett School District as a teacher, principal and administrator. He had served one term as a port commissioner years ago.
In the campaign, Stiger was critical of the commission's removal of many of the waterfront businesses to make way for a $400 million redevelopment plan that would have built 660 waterfront condominiums.
The plan fizzled when the port's development partner couldn't get financing and went bankrupt. Stiger said the port needed to place less emphasis on redevelopment and focus now on expanding its marine terminals to produce jobs.
The incumbent also supported terminal expansion, but said there was still an opportunity for redevelopment, especially involving businesses that support the port's north marina.
Wolken spent more in the race than opponent Stiger, who raised little and mostly paid for his campaign out of his own pocket.
Stiger drew 55 percent, or 6,580 votes, in the vote count Tuesday night, which is expected to be less than half of the final turnout. Incumbent Mark Wolken grabbed 44 percent, or 5,265 votes, in the early returns in the Position 2 race.
Wolken, a business consultant who is serving as commission chairman this year, was filling out the term of Commissioner Connie Niva, who moved out of the district.
Tuesday's election was for a full, six-year term on the nonpartisan commission.
Stiger, an Everett businessman, is retired from a career with the Everett School District as a teacher, principal and administrator. He had served one term as a port commissioner years ago.
In the campaign, Stiger was critical of the commission's removal of many of the waterfront businesses to make way for a $400 million redevelopment plan that would have built 660 waterfront condominiums.
The plan fizzled when the port's development partner couldn't get financing and went bankrupt. Stiger said the port needed to place less emphasis on redevelopment and focus now on expanding its marine terminals to produce jobs.
The incumbent also supported terminal expansion, but said there was still an opportunity for redevelopment, especially involving businesses that support the port's north marina.
Wolken spent more in the race than opponent Stiger, who raised little and mostly paid for his campaign out of his own pocket.
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