Letter to Editor | Kartiganer has done her homework for Port Commissioner

— from Cindy Wolf —

Mia Kartiganer is the best candidate for Port Commissioner Position #5
because she understands the future is not simply something that happens to us or something we must fight against. The future is, to great extent, something we create. The actions or passivity of local leadership will determine the character of our community for years to come. For the healthiest, most balanced and most beautiful results, decisions taken by public authorities must be informed by a shared vision arrived at through public conversation and good data.

Mia is a long time resident of the island. She came to Orcas in 1991 and
literally built her home here with her own hands. She made her living over
the years the way many islanders do; in construction work, massage
therapy, as a private chef and as a small business owner employing other
islanders at Mia’s Cafe in Eastsound. During her time as a business owner
she served on the Board of Directors for the Chamber of Commerce.

The Washington State directive to Port Commissions is not merely to maintain local airports as parking lots and camping facilities for pilots. The directive tasks the Ports with promoting a thriving economy. Mia is
keenly interested in making responsible choices about infrastructure that
support making a living in this quiet, rural, ecologically sensitive
place. Mia has shared with me wonderful ideas about positioning Orcas as
an incubator for light industry focused on green technology, recycling and re purposing rather than remaining in the mode of dependence on increased tourism and construction of new housing as economic drivers. To this end she has used her time as a candidate to attend Port meetings, talk to Port counsel, examine relevant documents, dialog with the Port management, sitting commissioners and community members with a variety of concerns and creative ideas. She has taken time to sort out what the Port can and can’t do. She went to the library, studied the proposed changes to the airport and read, among other things, the latest Environmental Impact Report, so she is clear not only on what the Port’s obligations are, but what the consequences would be to our local ecosystem of ignoring or attempting to circumvent those obligations. Those consequences are unacceptable to her, as in my opinion they should be. Mia has come to know the people running the Port and suggested good, concrete ideas for improved communication and transparency.

Some years ago Mia learned to fly small planes and she sees the value in maintaining and improving a small, safe airport. Safety is a real concern and she is ready to champion ideas for low-impact ways to address those concerns in the very near future. She has also begun to explore the future of electric aircraft, reaching out for a company that is already in communication with Kenmore Air about adding electric planes to their fleet. Aside from reduction in carbon emissions, such planes also offer significant reduction in noise pollution.

Mia offers a valuable, comprehensive, forward thinking leadership that sees where real improvements can be made while preserving and enhancing the best parts of how we live. I am excited that Mia is willing to step up and hope you will join me in voting to bring her vision and spark to the table.