Local News

Port of Seattle Commissioner John Creighton said today he will seek re-election this year. He’s been on the commission since 2006 and served as president in 2007 and 2008. He ran unopposed in 2009.

He said in a news release he will campaign on his leadership helping the port grow sustainably, particularly its cruise operations. He cited his work on reform. During his tenure, audits have exposed spending and conflict-of-interest problems among commissioners.

Creighton also touted his role in the Port’s Century Agenda, a marketing plan to increase Port business. The port is under pressure from development interests in Sodo and competition from the Port of Tacoma, as well as ports in British Columbia and California.

Creighton, a business lawyer and Democrat, challenged Metropolitan King County Councilwoman Jane Hague for her seat in 2011, but lost in the primary after his opponent made an issue of a protective order taken out against him by a former girlfriend.

Commissioners Tom Albro and Rob Holland also are up for re-election. No word yet on whether they plan to run. In addition, the commission will begin this month taking applications from candidates hoping to be appointed to replace Gael Tarleton. Tarleton is resigning at the end January from the Port Commission because she was elected to the state House of Representatives.

Port of Seattle Commissioner Rob Holland put off indefinitely a proposal to allow commissioners to hire interns to act as personal assistants. At the port’s meeting this afternoon, Holland withdrew the budget amendment he had planned to introduce last-minute. He said he supports the proposal to have the five commissioners be able to hire their own assistants to help answer e-mail and phone calls, summarize meetings and analyze topics — but it needs further discussion.

Holland might not have had enough votes to pass the amendment to the Port’s 2013 budget. Commissioners Bill Bryant and Gael Tarleton had expressed concerns. Tarleton said Holland was looking for someone “to do his job” and Bryant said he wasn’t sure what problem the interns were intended to solve.

In a short statement today, Holland offered a defense of his proposal. Part-time port commissioners work hard running for office, taking time away from their families, holding full-time jobs, all in the interest of “the economic vitality of this region.” He added: “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with … this body of people asking for individuals to come in and learn and train and be of assistance.”

Commissioner John Creighton, who had planned to second the amendment, said he was in favor of commissioners being able to hire  interns, but the details needed work. Port CEO Tay Yoshitani said there is enough money in the Port budget to pay for the interns if the commissioners decide they want them mid-year.