CHIMACUM — Six candidates running for two Port of Port Townsend commissioner seats, debated economic policy, marina repairs and the future of port properties before nearly 100 people Monday night at Tri-Area Community Center.
Running for the District 2 seat are incumbent Dave Thompson, 66, of Port Townsend; Bob Schuessler, 66, of Port Hadlock; and David Whipple, 48, of Port Townsend.
Running for the District 3 position are incumbent Herb Beck, 71, of Quilcene; Douglas Breithaupt, 51, of Port Townsend; and Leif Erickson, 58, of Port Ludlow.
Ballots for the primary election will be mailed today, with votes counted Aug. 18.
The top two vote-getters for each seat will advance to the Nov. 3 general election.
Creating jobs
Beck and Thompson told voters they want to finish the job they started: creating jobs.
“I’m still committed to making the port a viable resource for a strong job base,” Beck said.
“The port is essential for a vibrant economy and providing a livable wage to help improve the quality of life in this community.”
Beck said that between 400 and 500 students graduate annually from Jefferson County and that most leave their homes to find work.
“I wish we could create job opportunities for them and want to do that.”
Thompson agreed, saying the plan is in place to create more jobs, using the port as the catalyst.
“This year, we looked at the numbers and saw we had a 35 percent vacancy rate in the boat yard,” Thompson said.
“The consensus was to put on a special rate, to put on a sale, and we did that.
“Right now, we have more boats there than we did at the first of the month, so it’s been fairly successful.”
Thompson said the lowering of haul-out fees was just the first step in creating work in the county.
Breithaupt, owner of a business that prepares students for college, agreed that the proper steps were being taken to boost the local economy.
“The current commissioners and port staff have done a very good job initiating a plan,” he said.
“I applaud the commissioners for moving us forward, but it’s just a plan, and we still need to do the work.
“I believe I have the skills that can help do that.”
Erickson, a marine tradesman for three decades, wants to cut port spending while considering the environment.
“A strong marine trades community supported by reasonable port policies can support the whole region,” Erickson said.
“There must be an economic drive by the port . . . and environmental protection must be considered in every decision the commissioners make.”
Schuessler, the former manager of the Hadlock Marina, seeks change.
“There’s a little bit of anger there in the community with people feeling they aren’t getting their money’s worth, and they feel there should be a change, he said.
“I’m here for the change.”
Whipple seeks to put his experience as a planner and grant writer for nonprofit groups to work on the port commission.
“Instead of running red budgets, I want to plan ahead and think of a long-term strategy,” Whipple said.
“I want to look at specific marketing, to see the big picture.
“When I’m commissioner, I want you to talk unabashedly to me in your own self-interest, but realize that I will turn around and say, ‘What are you going to do to help us get it done?'”
Questions on issues
Candidates fielded several questions from the crowd.
Here are a few:
• Candidates were asked to answer yes or no to the question of their support of the Make Waves! group’s efforts to construct a pool near the Kah Tai Lagoon on land owned by the port.
Erickson, Thompson and Whipple all responded said yes, while Beck said he supported the efforts, but wouldn’t go as far to say he would vote yes.
Schuessler said no, expressing concern over congestion in the area.
Breithaupt said he didn’t know because he didn’t have enough information.
• All six candidates said they support dredging the Quilcene Marina, which is inaccessible during low tides.
Beck added that he would call for a vote to approve the dredging at the next meeting.
“Yesterday was not soon enough for dredging that facility as far as I’m concerned,” he said. “If I can find another commissioner at next meeting I’ll make a motion and make it happen.”
Thompson said he would not make a decision until commissioners meet, but he favors it.
“The marina is not very viable without being dredged,” he said. “But I think with the completion of that, which I am in favor of, we will have over $1 million into the facility down there.”
• Candidates debated the best way to fund repairs to A/B Dock in Port Townsend Boat Haven.
Both Beck and Thompson said they believed they would need to incur debt to pay $5 million for repairs.
Schussler said he would prefer to seek grants.
“We keep hearing about shovel-ready projects,” he said, referring to federal stimulus grants.
“The question is, why hasn’t the port been looking for and trying to get some of this money that Washington is handing out?”
Whipple said his strong history in grantsmanship would benefit the community in this area.
“I wrote one [for Brinnon] when it was needed; I wrote one for Habitat for Humanity when it was needed; when we needed a mental health center in Jefferson County, I wrote one,” Whipple said.
Briethaupt said planning should have begun earlier.
“This didn’t just come up this year,” he said. “Money should have been set aside for this project.
“Long-range capital planning is critical for project like this, and we should ask the current commissioners why that didn’t happen in the past.”
Erickson agreed.
“Some decision-making could have been done to avoid this in the first place,” he said. “Right now, the A/B dock is not our only problems; the boat dock needs some help too, and that is next.”
Erickson said he would look at the budget to see what could be changed to fix the docks before taking on a large debt.
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Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.
