Thursday, October 1, 2026
Port of Olympia Commissioner Jasmine Vasavada was reelected as commission president for 2026, marking her second consecutive year in the role.
As president, Vasavada will continue to preside over all commission meetings and work sessions. Port policy also states the president signs all resolutions and contracts on behalf of the commission, as well as authorizes notices for regular and special commission meetings.
The annual election of the officers took place at a meeting on Monday, Jan. 12. The meeting was also the first for new commissioners Joel Hansen, Jerry Toompas and Krag Unsoeld.
Hansen nominated Vasavada for president, which was confirmed by the other commissioners.
He also nominated Sarah Montano as vice president, a role that exercises the functions of the president during an absence. No other nominations were made for the position.
For the role of secretary, which is responsible for record keeping in the commission, Hansen and Unsoeld both nominated themselves. Hansen secured the roles with votes from himself, Vasavada, Montano and Toompas.
Toompas had earlier voted in favor of Unsoeld, but a motion to elect him failed.
Before the start of the meeting, the new commissioners shared a few words to introduce themselves.
Hansen, an Olympia native, said he has been involved with the port since 2019 as a member of the Port of Olympia Citizens Advisory Committee.
Toompas said he is a teacher from Yelm and ran for the commission to represent the rural portion of the county.
Unsoeld said he comes from a water quality and planning background, having worked with the Puget Sound Water Quality Action Team.
He added that he looks forward to helping the commission make science-based decisions, while emphasizing accountability and transparency.
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sharron.coontz
The article doesn't mention that Jasmine V. announced that the executive director, Ms. Smith, said Jasmine should propose that slate of officers. We didn't elect Ms. Smith, for the record.
Tuesday, January 13 Report this
johnvaneenwyk
Congratulations, Jasmine!
Wednesday, January 14 Report this
Boatyarddog
I did vote for Vasavada, she needs more of a spine. With the help of Unsoled and Toompass and Montano, possiably just Maybe We can steer this Ship in a good for the people direction. I think the Estuary Project is better off for having DOE to head this project up. Realize that dredging up Buried Contamination is the Wrong Approach for Water Quality. And that is what IS MOST important. Close the Marine Terminal and create a Tourism Economy around the Port.
Wednesday, January 14 Report this
Boatyarddog
Longshoremen can Travel to other Ports for work. And they do it all the time. They have been the focus of the Floundering Business of Loading Logs for too long. This Port Government has pandered to them at the Taxpayers expense... it is NOT any better off than it was 20+ years ago.
Wednesday, January 14 Report this
BevBassett
I hate to see the ED working to railroad Vasavada into the powerful position of president again because Alex Smith, as ED, is directly supervised by the commissioners; thus, it's inappropriate for her to be choosing her boss. Railroaded is the operative word here for an action which was a bad sign, initially.
Beyond that, Vasavada has consistently disappointed me with her votes on the Port Commission. When I voted for her originally, I had hopes she'd be an improvement over the last commissioner from her district--and she has not been materially any real improvement, sad to say.
I have hopes for Unsoeld and Toompas, but I don't underestimate the powerful corrupting influences to which they will be subjected on virtually all fronts. I've seen these forces in action with Sue Gunn and EJ Zita in the past--and they were truly evil on close scrutiny. I have no illusions that things have improved in any way since.
In Thurston County, the Port effectively moves public assets into private hands in myriad ways. Those assets, instead of working for taxpayers--the owners of the assets and the funders of the rampant deficit spending hidden in thousands of ways day in and day out from the taxpayers and citizens--are moved into private hands and never benefit the taxpayers in any way.
The time has come for real change. The people are wising up and expect the Port to act in ways that are consistent with the public's best interest for a change. We're watching. We see you.
Thursday, January 15 Report this
Boatyarddog
@BevBassett, Thanks Beverly for Stating the Facts, your opinion is So True.
Friday, January 16 Report this