Port of Everett Commission District 2: Five ‘sprint’ for open seat

Published 1:01 pm Tuesday, October 26, 2010

EVERETT — For the first time anyone can recall, a candidate for a seat on the Port of Everett commission is using television commercials to promote himself and his message.

Television ads for an elected post that pays little more than expenses? What gives?

“It’s a sprint,” said Mark Wolken, the candidate with the TV spots. “People need to get their message out as quickly as they can.”

The sprint Wolken is referring to is the race between five people who want to fill the remaining two years of Connie Niva’s six-year term for the nonpartisan position. Niva resigned after buying a new home outside District 2.

There was no primary election for the post, so the November general election will be a winner-take-all race between Niva’s opponent four years ago, a long-time port critic, a former port commissioner, an Everett firefighter who worked at the port to help pay for college, and Wolken.

Fred Taucher

Four years ago, Fred Taucher ran against Niva on a platform of adding more freight to the port, saving the Collins Building from demolition — but moving it to a different location — and establishing a cruise terminal in Everett.

He said the ongoing recession makes the idea of a cruise terminal no longer practical, but he still supports developing more freight at the port and saving the Collins Building, which is on the national and state historic registers. But he doesn’t want to use a tax levy to pay for it.

Taucher noted that the port has “chased out a lot of small businesses” in its plan for a $400 million redevelopment of a part of the city’s waterfront. He’d like to see them come back now that the project’s private developer is hoping to reorganize in bankruptcy, and he’d also like to include waterfront access in the area for families and tourists to enjoy.

The previous commission opposed changing their board from three to five members and reducing the term from six years to four. Taucher supports both moves.

He said he’d be a good choice because he has done a lot of business in Japan and understands the Asian and European cultures. “I am a successful international businessman and I know how to motivate people,” he said.

Tom Stiger

Tom Stiger was a teacher, principal and administrator in the Everett School District for 27 years and now works in a family business.

He was a one-term port commissioner, serving as president in 1971, and says many of the issues are similar today. Stiger is the only candidate who supports a three-member commission with a six-year term.

“You don’t learn port issues overnight,” he said, adding. “The district isn’t all that large and I don’t think you gain anything with five commissioners.”

Stiger, who said he worked in the Collins Building while going to college, said the port needs to take a second look at what saving the building would cost.

He also said he would work to eliminate the port’s tax levy.

David Mascarenas

David Mascarenas said he has attended port meetings for 20 years and is astounded that an agency that has had such little interest from the public has suddenly attracted so many candidates, including one with television spots.

“I can’t afford ads and yard signs,” he said. “But I have been door-belling every single day.”

Mascarenas has been a strong proponent of a five-member commission to broaden its representation and four-year terms to change the group’s makeup more quickly. He’s also worked for more waterfront access and a reduction in spending for things like a new port administration building.

Sean Edwards

Sean Edwards believes the election comes at a good time for him to do something he’s always wanted to do — serve his community on the port commission. But he said it’s been a terrible time for him to campaign because word of Niva’s resignation came just as he was starting a three-month training stint at the state fire training academy in North Bend that’s ending next week.

“It’s been so demanding being up there,” he said. “It’s been impossible for me to run a campaign.”

Edwards worked in the port’s maintenance crew in college and also served in internships at the port. He’s hoping people will choose him because of his proven decision-making ability as a firefighter and paramedic.

“I’m not running because of a specific issue,” he said. “I’m coming in with a balanced approach.

Mark Wolken

Wolken, asked about his television ads, said they were less expensive than people might think because they were in-kind campaign contributions from supporters.

He said he also put up a lot of signs and has been talking to a lot of people because the job is important to him. Wolken is a business consultant with a long list of service on boards that include the city planning commission, civil service commission, Snohomish County Boundary Review Board and port property advisory committee. He was economic development director for former Everett Mayor Bill Moore.

Wolken said he’d like the port to development a clearer strategic vision. “They have a plan, but it’s too broad and not a good way to measure outcomes,” he said. “They need a detailed plan that ties everything together.”

That’s important, he said, because the port needs to get the public more involved in what it’s doing to ensure community support.

He’d like to see the port work more closely with the community and labor groups to develop a regional economic development strategy. “We need them involved upfront,” he said.

He said the Collins Building “needs to be a redo” where the commission looks anew at costs and potential opportunities. He also wants to see what’s possible with the planned redevelopment.

Wolken is the only District 2 candidate who has filed contribution and expense forms with the Washington state Public Disclosure Commission. He has received $37,480 in contributions from individuals, including money from Niva and Phil Bannan, District 1 commissioner who’s not running for re-election. Other money has come from businesses and labor groups and a number of other elected officials.

Port of Everett Commission District 2

TOM STIGER

Age: 70

Occupation: Small business owner

DAVID MASCARENAS

Age: No response

Occupation: Retired.

MARK WOLKEN

Age: 52

Occupation: Business consultant

FRED TAUCHER

Age: 76

Occupation: Founder, chairman Corporate Computer Inc.

SEAN EDWARDS

Age: 39

Occupation: Firefighter, paramedic