Port of Olympia District 3 candidates share ideas for port’s future

Port of Olympia District 3 candidates E.J. Zita and Jerry Farmer brought their port ideas to The Olympian’s editorial board on Tuesday, touching on subjects they feel will help diversify the port’s operations.

Both candidates, who met separately with the board, shared similar ideas for the port, but differed on other issues, such as the marine terminal.

The marine terminal typically has been the port’s largest revenue generator, but not this year: A drop in oil prices and a stronger dollar have slowed imports and exports.

Tumbling oil prices means fracking sand used to explore for oil in North Dakota isn’t needed as frequently — the port has received one shipment this year — while a stronger dollar has made exporting raw logs more expensive.

The result has been a steep drop in marine terminal revenue and revised financial forecasts for the remainder of the year.

Zita, who has a doctorate in physics and teaches at The Evergreen State College, supports the marine terminal, but questions its current focus. She wants the terminal to work economically, ecologically and to provide local jobs, she said. For example, shipping a milled wood product rather than raw logs means more jobs here.

“If we’re going to ship something, let’s have local people process those goods,” Zita said.

Farmer, co-owner of KRXY 94.5 FM, is more bullish on the marine terminal.

“There’s no reason it can’t continue and continue successfully,” he said. While the ports of Tacoma and Seattle have joined forces to corner the shipping container market, that may open the door at Olympia’s “boutique” port for more break-bulk business, such as bulk steel or wind blades.

“We can do things that the big ports can’t do,” he said.

Other ideas shared by the candidates:

▪ Zita: She believes port properties are ripe for more solar power panels. Panels already dot the roof of the marine terminal warehouse, but also could be applied elsewhere to port properties, creating installation and maintenance jobs.

▪ Farmer: He supports the idea of turning the port peninsula into a tourist destination he referred to as a “marina village.” Farmer also supports the idea of installing a new marine fuel dock, acknowledging that it wouldn’t pay for itself in the near term, but ultimately would be good for South Sound.

▪ Zita/Farmer: Both support the idea of a “food hub,” but Zita explained the idea, saying it would be a place where farmers could bring their produce, add value to them, package them, and then distribute them locally and regionally.

Farmer has raised about $15,000 for his campaign, according to state Public Disclosure Commission data. Top cash contributors include Ralph Lovelace and the Affordable Housing Council (Olympia Master Builders).

Zita has raised nearly $12,000, PDC data show. Top cash contributors include Thurston Environmental Voters and the Thurston-Mason-Lewis Central Labor Council.

This story was originally published September 15, 2015 at 4:02 PM with the headline "Port of Olympia District 3 candidates share ideas for port’s future."