READERs' OPINIONS

Readers' Opinions: Port of Olympia Candidates

Related to the November 7, 2023 General Election

Reader opinion: The JOLT publishes readers' letters on Thurston County topics, generally verbatim and within a day or two of receiving them. These opinions come from members of our community.

Photo by Stuart Miles

Posted Friday, October 27, 2023 8:25 pm

reader opinions

Reader Opinions: Port of Olympia Candidates

Port of Olympia Commission – District 1

Spread the Port's benefit to--wait for it--You!

I support Jasmine Vasavada for District 1 Port Commissioner because she will:

Preserve and grow family-supporting living wage jobs throughout the Port businesses and
Advocate for realigning the Marine Terminal's shrinking container business to a stronger business niche with more-than-logs Breakbulk cargo.
Shape Port's direction and benefit beyond the commercial/corporate/private interests the Port mostly serves today.
Prioritize environmental responsibilities (Budd Bay legacy pollution cleanup, Port-owned land use, and green energy sources).
Expand the Port's public engagement and improve transparency in strategic, long term decision-making,
Develop and strengthen collaborative relationships with local tribal governments, local governments, businesses, school systems, and civic partners to move our economy forward for all of our county’s residents.
Widen near-term and long-term community development benefits to Thurston County’s businesses, governments, and residents by cultivating public and private sector partnerships such as countywide broadband access.
Reverse the Port's long-standing record of business losses and
Spread the benefit of working tax dollar 'investments' the port receives to …wait for it…YOU! Please join me in voting for Jasmine Vasavada for District 1 Port Commissioner.

~ Mark Gray, Olympia

In support of Bill McGregor, Rose Chiu Gundersen and Troy Kirby

I write in response to Jim Lazar's recent letter, rife with inaccuracies regarding the upcoming Port of Olympia Commissioner election.

Bill McGregor, running for Position 1, stands as an exemplary candidate. His dedication to service, evident through his Coast Guard tenure and over 40 years of fostering children, speaks volumes about his character. With 42 years in the Port industry, 27 as a staffer and 15 as a former Port Commissioner, his depth of knowledge makes him the most qualified contender on the November ballot.

The assertion that Weyerhaeuser enjoys a multi-million dollar lease subsidy is false. Weyerhaeuser's presence at the Port has translated into vital jobs for Thurston County citizens, fostering a thriving logging industry, supporting truck drivers, and creating marine terminal employment. These family-wage jobs are made possible by the Port's initiatives.

Additionally, the stormwater system consistently meets benchmarks, debunking Mr. Lazar's misleading claims on questionable environmental projects.

Furthermore, his inaccurate statement about the tax levy misguides readers. Most of the 75 Washington State ports collect taxes. The Port of Olympia's tax rate is modest, especially when compared to other Washington Ports.

Contrary to Mr. Lazar's assertions, real change comes from supporting candidates like Bill McGregor for Position 1, Rose Chiu Gundersen for Position 4, and Troy Kirby for Position 5. Their vision for economic development, job creation, and sustainable progress will shape a thriving Thurston County. Let's base our choices on facts and merit, ensuring a prosperous future for us all. ~ Jim Amador

Gundersen is a proven collaborative leader who knows our community

Rose Chiu Gundersen's candidacy for the Port of Olympia is an exciting prospect for our community, particularly in light of the Port's longstanding commitment to fostering economic development through workforce training. Having closely collaborated with Rose for nearly seven years in the realm of workforce development, I can confidently attest to her exceptional leadership qualities and her deep understanding of our community's needs.

Rose has consistently demonstrated an unwavering dedication to enhancing the work readiness and overall development of our youth. Her remarkable networking prowess and her ability to drive initiatives forward through effective collaboration have been instrumental in advancing our community's workforce readiness programs.

Moreover, Rose's role as an accomplished executive/manager at the Washington Retail Association further underscores her expertise in fostering collaboration. I have had the privilege of working alongside her exceptional team, which shares her passion for engaging with careers and technical educators on both local and statewide levels.

In sum, Rose Chiu Gundersen's proven track record as a collaborative leader, her deep-rooted commitment to youth work readiness, and her managerial prowess make her an ideal candidate for the Port of Olympia. Her leadership will undoubtedly contribute to the continued growth and prosperity of our community.

~ Bill Moore

Vote for Sanders, not Gunderson, for Port Commissioner.

Rose Gunderson appears to have a shallow understanding of the financial and environmental issues confronting the Port.

At a candidate forum hosted by the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce, she said, “the narrative about the port getting too much is not true because the schools get 30 percent more, or at least Tumwater schools do.” She went on to say “the port is able to balance its budget.”

This kind illogic, whataboutism and ignorance of the very real problems at the port is exactly what we need to rid our politics of. Check your property tax bill and see that the port commission raises our taxes regularly. They just raised it again for 2024. They misspend it by maintaining a non-functioning crane and ignoring legacy pollution in Budd Inlet. They are now mandated by DOE to pay for a 190 million dollar cleanup (our tax dollars) and paying the associated legal bills (our tax dollars).

Finally, when given a choice by the forum moderator as to which spirit animal she would choose, Mazama Pocket Gopher or New Zealand Mud Snail, she chose the latter. Another display of ignorance. This invasive snail is one reason Capitol Lake had to close to recreation. I doubt boat owners at the marina would have chosen it as their spirit animal.

Check out Maggie Sanders' website. You will see a deep, solutions-oriented understanding of the financial and environmental challenges facing the Port of Olympia.

~ Lisa Ceazan, Thurston County

The opinions expressed above are those of the writer and not necessarily those of The JOLT's staff or board of directors. Got something to say about a topic of interest to Thurston County residents? Send it to us and we’ll most likely publish it. See the Contribute your news button at the top of every page.