— by Lin McNulty, Managing Editor —
Over the past weekend, Orcas Issues asked the Port Commission candidates to answer two quick questions for publication: Why the Port Commission? and Why You?
Following are the responses we received (in no particular order) with a deadline of Tuesday for publication.
Michael Triplett
Why the Port Commission?
Taxation without representation has been our lot in life these past several years with the Port of Orcas. Let’s go back in time…..July 26, 2018 found me with a capacity crowd at the firehouse to hear our Port Master Plan presentation. Public comments seemed to indicate an overwhelming rejection of the Master Plan to which then Port Manager Tony Simpson announced: (and I paraphrase) This is NOT a democracy–we know what is best for you and the Port Commissioners will decide.
Now we fast forward to May 9 of this year when the Master Plan was rumored to be receiving the final vote. I had high hopes for this meeting because Tony Simpson was no longer the airport manager and the Port had three newly appointed ( all good people) commissioners. When we realized that the final vote seemed likely, about a dozen citizens in the room urged the commissioners to vote NO or delay voting on this Master Plan. I recall no citizen speaking in favor of the plan.
Retired midwife Melinda Milligan and I both spoke to the three recently appointed commissioners (Duke, vonTobel, Haffner) reminding them that as appointees, they were not elected by the people and thus had no mandate to vote on this 20 year plan. We urged them to delay or abstain till the November election and then if elected, they were free to vote on our destiny.
To my horror, Hopkins made the motion, vonTobel seconded it, and the five commissioners unanimously approved the Master Plan. I believe well above 60% of the voters reject this Master Plan and thus we are being taxed by the Port without being represented by the Port Commissioners. I don’t think we can stop paying taxes, BUT we CAN change our Port representatives.
Why you?
The main reason I am running for Port Commissioner is because nobody else would would do it. Since I was willing to speak at Port meetings, several of those in attendance approached me–urging me to run. Since I feel that the present Port representatives are making a mockery of the democratic process, I ultimately realized that unless they were challenged in the election, we would continue to get the same lack of representation.
Maybe you are concerned about the environment, carbon footprint, or the proposed airport expansion in close proximity to an ever growing Eastsound UGA. Perhaps you fear Eastsound becoming the next Jackson Hole, Martha’s Vineyard, or Nantucket. Some of you may be concerned about our island losing its sense of community. Those of us who moved here because of the quieter, simpler, rural life are increasingly under attack by those who only see Orcas as a way to make big money.
My profession finds me daily analyzing both immediate and future problems. My duty is to provide my findings along with solution options. In the end, my patients are the most qualified to decide which option is best for themselves. It is with that same spirit that I offer my services to Orcas as one of their next Port Commissioners.
Clyde Duke
Why the Port Commission?
Initially I was contacted by the Port Commission to see if I was interested in serving as they had just had two commissioners step down.
My home and business is .8 miles from the Port and under the northern flight path. As a past Orcas Island Firefighter and EMS responder for 20 years and as an OIFD Commissioner for 12 years I’ve worked with the Port closely to facilitate patient transport.
The Port is a great asset to our community helping with important community activities such as: banking, commerce (UPS/FEDEX), public transportation, medical emergency and non-emergency (ex. blood transportation), recreation, fresh food shipping for our local restaurants, and more.
Challenges ahead for the Port include the necessary expansion to meet the safety standards of a healthy, well maintained rural airport.
The Master Plan gives parameters based on the findings of our local Port activity. The Port District has the ability to navigate to its best responsible level and yet maintain it rural character.
Why you?
Some of the strengths I offer are from my past experience as an Orcas Island Fire and EMS Commissioner. That position taught me to be a good listener to all sides of an issue and matured my ability to facilitate productive discussions even in a contentious environment to reach a resolution.
If elected my opportunity is to engage in a sound public process working with our neighbors for a healthy Port that our community embraces and is proud of.
Greg Ayers
Why the Port Commission?
Because it’s critical to our community. I look for ways that I can apply my skills to assist various organizations, and I view the Port as an opportunity for me to make a substantial and significant contribution. The Port is integral to our island’s functionality and sustainability. I want to play an active role in moving the district forward, working with the community and my fellow commissioners to ensure the Port is responsibly managed and meeting the needs of the island.
There are many challenges to be resolved and the Port needs effective leaders, promoting clear communication, and improving the Port’s relationships. This includes the Port’s relationship with the community, but also the relationships within the Port organization. The Port needs good stewards to assure that the important services it provides are preserved:
- In an efficient manner to meet our needs
- In compliance with necessary local and national regulations
- With solid governance practices
- Using guidance and support from the community through public involvement
- Considering our shared community values, and consistent with our rural island culture
Why you?
I am the best candidate for many reasons.
I understand good governance. It’s not just publishing the agenda, or providing meeting minutes online. It’s working within the code of conduct of a public board of commissioners. I know how to adapt and implement the RCWs for our small community. I have worked with elected commissioners to improve our interaction with each other and the public. I can and will provide responsible governance.
I have led many companies to financial success. I can look at a financial statement and immediately see things that are amiss. I understand budgeting and trending to budget, which is essential for a tight budget like the Port’s. I will assure our Port is run efficiently and transparently.
I have spent my career working in the strictly-regulated medical field. I have been highly successful in understanding and navigating the regulatory world, getting life-saving medical devices on the market to help people.
My values are enveloped in the rural island culture. I understand our small community. I know how to work with my neighbors and assure our shared thoughts are incorporated in to future matters related to the Port.
I have the breadth of knowledge to hit the ground running at the Port, and the necessary skills to get things done under the red tape of government. I have what it takes to be an effective and efficient Commissioner, and a responsible steward of the districts’ assets—facilities, land, and the community’s hard earned tax dollars.
Pierrette Guimond
After attending two meetings last fall and listening to the Dowl’s Consultants proposal for the future of our rural airport expansion along with the majority of the attending public. I then started to attend the Port meetings.
Two Commissioners resigned, the airport manager resigned, then another Commissioner resigned and was appointed interim Airport Manager.
So now we have 3 new appointed Commissioners along with 2 long standing Commissioners that voted to go ahead with the Master Plan as presented.
This is a rural airport with limitations.
I want to be a voice for our Community and to have a realistic view for our future.
I am a retired flight attendant and I have lived here for 28 years now. I have been involved in a lot of issues in the last 20 years and I understand that elected officials are a voice for the public. Your vote will give you a voice.
Bea vonTobel
Out of cell range until after Halloween.
Poke Haffner
Typing with thumbs is hazardous to orthography. Port Commission initially almost by accident. Bea Von Tobel recruited me to apply for the vacancy created by Dwight Guss stepping down to take on the interim manager job.
Then once I started looking into it, it seemed a good fit. I’m not a pilot (that’s one of many of my unrealized ambitions).
However, I am a retired attorney, and my last four years in the Attorney General’s Office in Fairbanks Alaska, I represented the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities. [It’s pronounced dot-puff.] Alaska has 237 rural airports, plus the major airports in Anchorage and Fairbanks, and I got involved in all sorts of airport work in those years, including AIP (FAA’s Airport Improvement Program) work. That ranged from figuring out if we could use LED bulbs in runway lights (unsettled at that time), navigation easement issues, some eminent domain work (mostly that was in the context of road projects but the principles are the same), an inverse-condemnation case arising out of the 2002 Denali Fault earthquake, all sorts of airport access conundrums involving people and wildlife — generally bigger than our local diminutive deer — a wild variety of airport-related issues. I liked that work and learned doing it a lot about how the puzzle pieces fit together. I like solving puzzles.
I want to be of service where I live, and working on the Port Commission seems like a way I can offer my experience and what I learned in my working life to this place.
I would also hope to be a calming influence in what has been a difficult situation.
Gary Abood
It looks like a good conversation is going on now about the future
direction of the Port of Orcas. A little too little about issues and a
bit too much about personalities but at least conversations. I think my
comments to date in the Sounders and in the voters pamphlet are pretty
much where I am generally coming from.
As provided by the FAA rules, the master plan should be seriously
revisited to more fit our needs. I see little if any demand for growth
of our facilities. The need to condemn and acquire some properties on
the eastern side of the airport from owners who have expressed no
interest in selling does not exist. I want to see a more engaged board
at the Port and not just see policy turned over to staff again. Safety
of operations is most important and doing those things which provide for
this should be our priority. Following the engineering companies into
development just because the money is available is not my idea of good
policy. The terminal sure needs some work as does the fuel system; there
has been excessive deferred maintenance of our facilities in
anticipation of dreams of development by staff. The demand is simply not
evident as yet. I would think some economic development work would be
time well spent investigating. I have heard a few viable ideas which in my opinion might be useful to the community. Generally we have a small
country airport which I think will stay that way for some time. The Port
viewed as a larger government structure here on Orcas is available to
the citizens but only with broad community support tailored to our needs
and possibly things we want. Comprehensive community involvement in any plans for our Port…and a new board could see this occur. I would like
to serve as one of five representative voices.
Mia Kartiganer
No response by deadline.
Will you extend the deadline so we can hear from Mia? I’m sure it can happen before Halloween!
Thank you Lin for providing this fair and impartial forum for candidates to share their views and qualifications. Such opportunities allow for voters to get educated before they vote.
And we’re hearing the same misrepresentations that we “must” expand the airport for “safety” and to get more money and that somehow the people of Orcas support that approach. If so, we should be able to vote on it directly; as Tony Simpson so warmly put it during one of his stonewalling meetings, it is not a democracy. This election is the only alternative we have to sweep away those who voted for unnecessary and disruptive expansions. And who refused to wait for the newly-elected commissioners to express the will of the community.
I would also like to know how the candidates feel about that Master Plan — what they see as more or less likely under what circumstances — and why public input had such little impact on the final version. Part of my concern, as a citizen (not as a reporter for OI), is a pattern I see of public comments regarding County-level decision-making being little more than a formality. At what point does public feedback actually matter? I realize it’s somewhat of a rhetorical question, and it’s not always true, but it seems to happen often enough to raise some flags.
I second Matthew’s comment. I would also like to hear thoughts on what he’s said.
Mathew raises the key question.. when is a public process public?
When does it matter what I say and how do I know and trust my comments are being heard and concidererd?
I cannot speak for the past activities of the Port, but I can share my views of the present that I have witnessed.
There has been a change, three new positions filled with fresh individuals..
To that point, a tremendous amount of catching up for all three appointees. I am very honored and proud how my two counter parts stepped up and engaged with thoughtful mindfulness of their rolls.
The loud angst I’ve heard is that the Commission moved forward on voting the master plan to the next step.
I submit, they did their job.. not to sell out their community but to be vigilant on the steps required.
There has been intelligent, thoughtful discussion on the matters of and what’s practical about the master plan, all in public Port meetings.
I submit, the absolute theme I’m seeing is transparency and accountability of the communities interests. So to truly get up to speed, please either talk with your commissioners or come to the meetings.
It does matter what individuals think and more importantly, how that vision is embraced.
Clyde, There was little discussion about going forward with the master plan as presented. With 3 new appointed Commissioners sitting at the table. A special public meeting should of been scheduled so that the 3 appointed commissioners had a chance to listen to the public before voting !
I must apologize. I am still unable to find the email inviting me to answer the questions. So briefly;
My initial interest in running for port commissioner was borne of a desire to help change the tone of public interactions at port meetings. There is something annihilating about not feeling heard and while the standing rules may limit how commissioners can respond in the moment, there is still a way to respectfully acknowledge people’s concerns.
As I delved into what it means to be a port commissioner I realized that I wanted to have a role in community advocacy and sharing information about the port. I’m not uniquely qualified but I am driven by what feels like an organically grown calling to be of service to this island, its inhabitants and visitors. I’ve spent half of my life here, my days feel like an ongoing family reunion.
I don’t suffer from political aspirations, I just want this job. What I hold to be my best achievements were realized through collaboration with others (except that goal I made from midfield, in highschool). The failures have been my own.
The Port is required to create a Master Plan every 20 years. That being said, this Master Plan doesn’t feel proportionate to its setting in the midst of our UGA. Is there an engineering company in existence that would have drawn up something that actually reflected who and where we are? Not if the FAA is paying them. Not if the intent is to show us what it would look like if we met all of the FAA’s standards. It’s just not realistic here with space we have available.
The future of the port will be decided by the people who own it (that’s all of us). I’d like to focus on reducing noise pollution for the residents and business owners in the UGA. True, the California company Ampaire is still in the prototype phase of electric planes, but I’m more interested in the work they are already doing in retrofitting existing planes to hybrid. That isn’t something we would pay for, but we can petition the airlines at our airport to look into it.
And I’d like to see caution lights on Mt. Baker Road. I met a man today upon whose car a plane did a touch and go. Caution lights could have prevented that.
Imagine, five commissioners with ad hoc committees working on different goals aimed to benefit our community, economy and environment. That is what collaboration looks like.
That is what public service is meant to be. I will happily work with any of your choices.
Amen.
To every single one of you.
Sometimes the arthritic process gainsays the individual value we each can bring.
This parrot is no more! It has ceased to be!
It’s expired and gone to see ‘is maker!
This is a LATE parrot
It’s a stiff! Bereft of life, ‘e rests in peace!
If you hadn’t nailed ‘im to the perch ‘e’d be pushing up the daisies!
[It’s kicked the bucket, It’s shuffled off ‘is mortal coil, ]
rung down the curtain and joined the bleedin’ choir invisible!!
THIS IS AN EX-PARROT!!
[to quote, yes, Margaret Thatcher in the House of Commons]