||| FROM BEA VON TOBEL |||
There are a lot of races on the ballot for this election. As one who has been on both sides of election results, and one who has chosen not to continue as an elected official, I wholeheartedly recommend Mia Kartiganer for position 3.
If you read the voter pamphlet, she has truly spoken to and for the public during her term as a port commissioner, providing sensitive leadership from her position as an examiner, questioner, supporter and advocate for the port. Her broad reach of transportation issues, her outreach to the community, and ability to listen and process the myriad of inputs, propose solutions and move the port forward is a valuable asset.
Even more importantly, as a nonpilot, she brings the voice of the majority of islanders to the table. She also balances a need for proactive and contributing women to the commission, which I feel is a much-needed quality.
Please support Mia for another term as the position 3 commissioner; she deserves to continue to work for the port and the community in this important time.
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I agree, Bea. Mia has been a great voice for many on Orcas and a skilled leader on the Port Commission. Looking forward to seeing her continue in the position.
I beg to differ Bea. I believe if you check Mia’s employment record you will conclude she is definitely not the best choice for the Port Commission. Being a woman has nothing to do with being the most qualified to serve on the Port Commission. Proven business success, executive experience, aviation knowledge, successful accomplishments and community involvement are the criteria that should be used to pick the most qualified person. And that person is Rick Fant; her opponent on the ballot.
I think it is really important that at least one of the people on the Port Commission NOT be a pilot or aviation professional. Many of us would like to see some balance, not just a pro-airplane bias.
Bea, great letter. Thank you for supporting Mia. From the time this commission hit the ground running in 2020, Mia and all of you other commissioners elected at that time have worked so hard to be responsible, find out what we can and can’t do concerning the FAA, listened to not just pilots but the people under and near the flight path; you hired Jeannie as manager and now, Kim Kimple – both great choices. Kim has been facilitating taxing district meetings for years and knows
the ropes. This was all done under your good works – and Mia was/is a part of that.
Mia is smart,capable, creative, an idea person, committed to learning (and a fast learner), fair, dedicated, curious, open minded. She is constantly learning and asking how the Port can best serve everyone in this community and honor all of our values – pilots, neighbors, people concerned about care and stewardship of Eastsound Swale wetland watershed, downtown businesses.
It was a hard and arduous year of work to straighten out that Master Plan with DOWL and wrest some of the more outrageous ideas from being entertained. They should never have been mapped – what a waste of tax dollars that was! That was unfortunate – DOWL – the maps, the ideas. All of it.
Mia, Michael, Bea, Robert, and Pierrette rose to all of that. Mia has made the time to go to some of the educational off island events to get up to speed on things aviation and FAA. It’s a big learning curve but we landlubbers CAN learn it! I think some of us know more about that than the pilots do.
As for Bob Waunch’s comment; Bob, I’m disappointed in what you are saying. Being a commissioner a mostly volunteer position, not employment. yes, more monies came with covid – and commissioners can take that money or not. As far as I am concerned, they earned it. Mia has been there to listen to all sides and work with this commission. I can find no fault with her work or her sincerity.
From where I stand (and live) – under the dangerous to us at Lavender Hollow – and noisy – flight path; I am more than happy to have commissioners finally take us seriously as stakeholders in this. We and the tax base need a voice. Mia is fair – not biased. She is community minded. I beg to differ with you, Bob, on your assessment about both Mia and Rick Fant – who is promising the moon in a heavy well funded campaign, has a commercial business center west of the airport and owns land next to the Port, was part of suing the port for the rights to essentially have a gated community. He has cost the port money, if you want to do some mud-dragging on actions. I know for a fact that some of the stuff he is promising – such as affordable housing, can’t be ‘bought’ with Port monies – OR votes – unless he puts the money or land up himself. I have seen him dominate, interrupt, and insert himself where not asked. That is not a good trait for a commissioner or a chair – it’s not a trait of a true leader. We don’t need any governors or dictators.
God, I hate to do this! But it’s not fair to character- assassinate somebody. Bob. You need to look at the work Mia has done with this commission, and if you find fault with that, so be it -then share that. I see this commission as a good working commission.
I remember myself and a few others being gaslighted when we started showing up at Port meetings and challenging that overblown Master Plan. It sucked. There were attacks. But you know what? Much good came of it anyway. We started to get balance in the way a commission should run. We started to get commissioners who listened, responded, took the time to educate us – Greg Sawyer was one of those – even though he and I disagreed on many things.
I’d ask people to consider one more thing: what qualifies somebody to be a commissioner? What qualities are you looking for? Knowing it all about aviation, or being responsive to the entire community? Please, people – think about the work done and vote for Mia again.
Bea, we will miss you and your contributions as a commissioner. I hope you’ll stick around if we have any historical questions – you have a wealth of knowledge of how things work. You have been a great secretary and you are going to be hard to replace. Best regards.