Juan Paraiso had worked at the Port of Seattle for seven years as a Senior Electrical Engineer. He can bring effective leadership to the Seattle Port Commission. He has a good understanding about the recent state audit on projects and contract works at the port. He will work to reform the way Port of Seattle does project and contract works to make it a high performance organization. The current work organization is top heavy and inefficient.
In order to get a competitive edge over other west coast ports, Port of Seattle has to lead efforts on improving freight-related traffic problems and improve ability to move goods from port to consumer quickly. Juan will work on policies for implementing sound environmental protection and phased elimination of taxpayers’ subsidy to the Port.
Thank you for voting Juan Paraiso for Seattle Port Commissioner.
Supercargo/Marine Clerk, Longshore Union; former four term Democratic Legislator
Education:
BA University of Puget Sound, 1976; Grays Harbor College, Student Body President, 1974
Statement:
Max Vekich: Uniquely Qualified
Max Vekich is a respected former legislator who chaired the House Commerce and Labor and Trade and Economic Development Committees—Max will bring needed legislative skills and relevant policy expertise to the Port Commission.
A career longshore worker and marine trade expert, Max is the only candidate in this position with hands-on port experience and a track record of legislative action to expand trade and jobs in our region.
Protect and Expand Jobs
Max’s top priority is preserving and creating jobs at the Port and in the hundreds of businesses that rely on it. By preserving Fisherman’s Terminal and our urban industrial areas, Max will help protect options for future job creation.
Transparency and Accountability
The Port has been distracted by scandal and fraud—undermining public confidence. Max will fight for policies that increase transparency and curb insider influence. Max will bring the Port back to the people of King County.
Conservation Leadership
Max will protect environmental quality through encouraging ship plug-in technology, helping truckers overhaul their vehicles to reduce pollution, and implement technology reducing jet noise and emissions.
The following individuals and organizations all agree – OUR Port Needs Max!
Congressman Jay Inslee, Superintendent Randy Dorn, 37th District Democrats, ILWU Local 52, Teamsters Local 174, Inland Boatmen’s Union, Sailors’ Union of the Pacific, and Marine Engineers Beneficial Association
Small Business Owner, Municipal League Chair (former), and Civil Engineer.
Education:
University of Washington, BS Civil Engineering; American Marshall Memorial Fellow; Leadership Tomorrow.
Statement:
Our regional economy depends on the Port of Seattle and its SeaTac airport, Fisherman’s Terminal (base of the Alaska fishing fleet), and seaport cargo facilities. The Port connects us to the world, creates jobs here, and anchors our maritime/manufacturing/industrial base.
We need more jobs now. We need to make sure the Port is still creating jobs when our children and grandchildren will need them. We need to be ecologically sound and economically vital or we all lose. We need leadership that is running the Port’s business for all of us - and not just the insiders.
We need Tom Albro on the Port Commission. Tom is a proven reformer, regional leader, green job creator, and civil engineer. He is tough, independent, and dedicated to public service.
TomAlbro is not an insider - he will lead the Port in serving all of us. Tom will: ·Grow our job base by improving the Port’s competitiveness and protecting its industrial land uses. ·Complete needed reforms and hold management accountable by demanding honest, open governance of the Port. ·Reduce environmental impact with smart operating practices, innovation and wise stewardship.
From studying civil engineering at the UW, to being a Teamster and learning project management at United Parcel Service, to owning and operating several businesses over the last two decades, Tom Albro has proven his ability to succeed. He’s a civic leader, having chaired the Municipal League of King County, the Regional Governance Project, and a citizen committee to improve bus service. He has been a Marshall Fellow, studying public service in Europe, and active in St. Therese School in the Madrona neighborhood.
Please join us and folks like Governor Dan Evans, Deb Eddy, Dick Ford, and Peter Steinbrueck and vote for Tom. We need him at the Port.
The last time I ran for this office, which pays only $6,000 per year, my opponents spent close to $500,000 on their full-time campaigns. I paid the $60 filing fee, and spent nothing else. For all of the expensive campaigning, voters ultimately lost. The decades-long incumbent left office in disgrace amid divisive scandals and a disastrous performance audit.
Although both property tax bills and the costs of administering the Port are on the rise, the Port of Seattle’s business has practically fallen off a cliff. Last year, cargo volumes dropped over 8%, a higher rate of decline than any West Coast port. I wish this wasn’t a consistent story, but it unfortunately is; the Port of Seattle has underperformed other West Coast ports for many years.
Complicating matters, the Port of Seattle has too many businesses to effectively focus its investments. With the cushion of a property tax subsidy, it simply hasn’t been forced to do so. Most people know that the Port runs the airport, seaport, and cruise terminal, but it also manages four conference centers, six office and commercial developments, a system of nineteen parks, and a police department nearly as large as the entire City of Renton (population 80,708) force. That’s just the tip of the iceberg! Clearly, there are opportunities for both operational improvements and divestitures.
Even worse, owing to its large and predictable tax base, other government agencies have started treating the Port of Seattle like an ATM. The Port of Seattle has been asked to contribute toward viaduct replacement after already paying for other state highway projects. It even paid millions toward Sound Transit light rail! Obviously, this trend needs to stop.
Once again, I am not accepting campaign contributions. While I don’t want your money, I would be honored to have your vote!
Juan Paraiso
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