Members’ concerns never considered

If the issue of expanding the Everett port commission were placed on the ballot, the new commissioners would have been simultaneously elected. Anyone interested would have been required to enroll months before the issue surfaced, thus giving opportunity for a seeded commission.

The commission needs to be sensitive and responsive to the public, and they, too, need to do the same with the commission. The commission was asked to vote for something it wasn’t entirely comfortable with. The word “stonewall” used once by David Mascarenas and again by the Herald editorial board suggests a belligerent commission, which promotes dysfunction. As evidence, the concerns on the part of the commission were ignored and modification was never considered.

Words like “stonewall” create political pressure, which is no way to decide issues. Politics should yield to doing the right thing, and the right thing would be to bring about a thorough discussion with an informed, not politicized, populous, with ample time and opportunity to participate.

The concept of stonewall is dependent upon the assumption that the commission is an adversary. However, despite the evidence, both the editorial board and David Mascarenas chose to overlook the principles of democratic process. Even if the commission were looking for a reason to stonewall, they found one that makes sense. With this logic, “stonewall” becomes political rhetoric based on assumption. Do we want representation that panders to coercion and exploitation? I wasn’t the swing vote, and could easily have taken political cover, but instead voted what I felt was right.

No harm done, the issue has now been unearthed so let the discussion begin, and this is just one more reason to do so. Giving our public servants the benefit of the doubt and looking deeper into issues may bring about different conclusions.

Michael Hoffmann

Commissioner, Port of Everett

District 3