EVERETT — The Port of Everett Commission’s chairman, Phil Bannan, was leading the race Tuesday, heading toward a second term.
Bannan was ahead of challenger Valerie Steel.
A co-owner of Scuttlebutt’s, a family brew pub on the waterfront, Bannan is a former executive director of the port. He stressed prudent fiscal management as well as a balance between the public’s demand for waterfront access and the port’s mandate to create jobs.
Steel, a real estate agent, has long been active in port issues. She pressed for the port to provide more information to the public on the many projects under way, and to do it sooner.
She said she’d push to put minutes of the port commission’s meetings on the agency’s Web site and look for additional ways to keep the public involved.
The two waged a tough battle and were separated in the primary election by less than 100 votes.
Bannan will now serve another six-year term on the three-member commission, which also includes Don Hopkins and Jim Shaffer, who were not up for re-election.
The commission provides overall direction for the port district, which includes portions of the Marysville and Mukilteo areas as well as Everett.
The port has come under increasing public scrutiny in recent months because of a number of major projects. It plans to add a new 150-slip marina; redevelop a portion of the waterfront to add condominiums, office buildings, shops and marine-related businesses; and build a new pier to handle jet parts going to the Everett Boeing Co. plant.
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