2007 PRIMARY ELECTION ENDORSEMENTS - PORT OF SEATTLE (KING COUNTY)
Every year, the Northwest Progressive Institute teams with its Permanent Defense division to produce an endorsements guide for members and supporters.
Among Democratic and nonpartisan candidates, we endorse candidates that we believe best reflect our progressive values. If we endorse Republicans, we look for candidates that are closest to our beliefs, giving the nod to biconceptuals and rejecting extremists, while recognizing that such candidates may not share many of our values, vision, or ideals.
We ask three general questions when evaluating every candidate for endorsement:
- What are the candidate’s qualifications and why is he or she the best candidate?
- What is the candidate’s vision for the office they are seeking?
- What other endorsements or support does the candidate have?
With that introduction, here's our 2007 primary election endorsements guide for Port of Seattle races.
Seattle Port Commission, Position #2: GAEL TARLETON
Our Statement: This election year presents us with a new opportunity to bring reform to a Port of Seattle that has been mired in scandals and bad management for too many years. A progressive majority on the Port Commission is possible, but only if Republican incumbent Bob Edwards (Position #2) is defeated. Edwards has tried to advertise himself as a champion for progressive values in direct mail pieces to voters, but the truth is just the opposite. Edwards and fellow Commissioner Pat Davis were for years enablers of corrupt policies favored by former port executive Mic Dinsmore, who finally left the port this year. Dinsmore's tenure was characterized by bad decision making, wasteful spending, and ethical lapses. As a member of the majority bloc that voted to sanction Dinsmore's proposals without oversight, Edwards is responsible for the Port's lack of accountability and its many scandals. Several candidates are running to replace Edwards. The most well qualified challenger, a champion for the progressive values we share, is Gael Tarleton, a former Senior Analyst for the Defense Intelligence Agency. Gael's rich background includes experience working in the fields of national security, international trade, and disaster response Gael understands the critical role that the Port plays in our region and the significant challenges that it faces. We can count on Gael to fight for transparency, fairness, broad prosperity, and responsibility at the Port Commission.
Other Endorsements: Notable endorsements include The Sierra Club, the Washington Conservation Voters, King County Chapter, the Seattle Times, King County Councilmember Larry Phillips, Progressive Majority, The Stranger, Allied Arts, Cascade Bicycle Club, the King County Democrats, and a host of Democratic LD organizations. Gael also received an “Outstanding” Rating from the Municipal League (their highest rating).
Seattle Port Commission, Position #5: ALEC FISKEN
Our Statement: First elected to the Seattle Port Commission in 2003, Alec Fisken's efforts to expose fraud, waste, and negligent decisionmaking at the Port over the last several years have been nothing less than heroic. Since his first day as part of the Port's legislative body Fisken stood up to the Dinsmore regime, demanding an end to backroom deals and no bid contracts, as well as insisting the Port respect the public's right to know how taxpayer dollars were being spent and why. Fisken has independently probed the Port's finances (in the face of Dinsmore's hostility) , advocated for stronger environmental protections to keep our air and water clean, and condemned the Port's involvement in real estate projects that have nothing to do with the Port's core business of running a seaport and an airport. A progressive majority on the Port Commission means reelecting Alec Fisken to Position #5. Fisken's main challenger in the primary, who will likely move on to the general election, is Republican and conservative Bill Bryant. Bryant likes to tout himself as an environmentalist (his signs have an orca on them) but his contributions to Republican candidates at the state and federal level paint a different picture. Bryant donated thousands of dollars to George W. Bush in the 2000 and 2004 presidential campaigns. He also financially supported Chris Vance, Dino Rossi, Diane Tebelius, Rob McKenna, Dave Reichert, Mike McGavick, and a slate of Republican candidates. Bryant is no progressive, no environmentalist, and no reformer. We have a voice on the Commission in Position #5, and his name is Alec Fisken. We need to keep Alec at the Port working for us.
Other Endorsements: Notable endorsements include King County Executive Ron Sims, the Sierra Club, the Washington Conservation Voters, Progressive Majority, The Stranger, Allied Arts, Cascade Bicycle Club, the King County Democrats, Sailors Union of the Pacific, UFCW Local 21, UNITE HERE, Local 8, King County Labor Council, and a host of Democratic LD organizations. Alec also received an “Outstanding” Rating from the Municipal League (their highest rating).
© 2007 Northwest Progressive Institute.
