VOTE411 Voter Guide

Precinct committee officer and political activist. (No elected office, other than PCO.)

I wanted to get more involved in my community and politics.

Our business lines should be turning a profit to reduce the levy. We need to figure out what additional projects we can afford to take on and that will return on investment (financially and/or in terms of economic and community development). We need to be mindful of the environment at and around our port properties.

We should be responsible stewards of the port properties and can collaborate with other local governments on projects affecting the port.

I understand that the port is already planning for sea rise. I would like to make sure our plans are consistent, i.e. if we are expecting sea rise, that should inform other plans that we make.

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During over 50 years of public service, I was an educator with vulnerable populations, mostly adjudicated adolescents, for 25 years. As an environmental planner for the State of Washington for 13 years, I worked with local and tribal governments to facilitate coordination of their water quality efforts and assist in obtaining and leveraging federal and state funding sources to implement Puget Sound protection programs. I was a researcher/analyst for the Public Disputes Network at Harvard Law School for two years and covered the state legislature for two years as a journalist for the Seattle Weekly. I co-led harbor seal research expeditions in Glacier Bay for two summers. I have served on the boards of directors of various civic and nonprofit organizations for 30 years, including the Association for Experiential Education, Mason County 4-H, and South Puget Environmental Education Clearinghouse (SPEECH).

My professional experience makes me an ideal candidate to help guide the Port. I will make environmental restoration and economic and environmental sustainability a priority. The Port of Olympia is facing major decisions concerning operations at both the seaport and airport. The export of logs faces new challenges as restoration of the Deschutes Estuary impacts the seaport and the marina operations of the Port. Climate change is going to cause sea level rise, intensify weather events, raise the temperature of marine waters, and further threaten marine and upland biodiversity. Based on comments and testimony, the public is largely against any expansion of airport operations. All these challenges require intergovernmental coordination. I will work to ensure the Port of Olympia is something in which all Thurston County residents can take pride. I will also ensure we have a sustainable environmental and economic future.

First, communications and public participation: Sharing Port policy development and decision making with the public and relevant stakeholders will ensure Port actions reflect the environmental and community needs of the county and its residents. Second, science-based decision making: Environmental stewardship and habitat restoration must be based on science. This will ensure an effective response to climate change, including sea level rise, increasing temperatures in marine ecosystems, and restoring shoreline saltmarshes and tide flats. Third, collaboration: All Port planning and implementation must be coordinated with neighboring local and tribal governments, as well as federal and state regulatory and funding agencies. The Port must also coordinate with local businesses on Port property. Working together is the best way to create our future.

Support by the citizens of my district for policies to improve the environmental and community health of the South Puget Sound will be critical for these efforts to succeed. A frequent public criticism of the Port of Olympia has been the lack of transparency. I will work to open channels for public information and to develop increased support for science-based changes and public involvement in restoration efforts. I want all the citizens of Thurston County, who are also owners of the Port of Olympia, to be proud of the progress we will make in improving the environmental health of the South Puget Sound and the community health for everyone who lives here.

Climate change poses major threats to the Port of Olympia and the environment. These include sea level rise and intensified storm events, which increase flooding and property damage; habitat loss; water quality degradation; and loss or displacement of numerous species. Responding effectively to these threats demands certain steps. First, responses must be based on science to help us understand the severity of the threats and how to effectively respond to them. Second, the Port of Olympia cannot effectively combat climate change alone. The best way to succeed is to communicate, cooperate and collaborate with Thurston County, local cities, tribes, the business community, labor unions, the public, other stakeholders, and federal and state regulatory and funding agencies. Finally, the public must be fully involved in both understanding the climate crisis and in developing and implementing successful responses. This will earn their full support for the Port’s efforts.