Port commissioner speaks out about story on staff’s no-confidence vote on exec. director
Port of Olympia Commissioner Joe Downing, disappointed that an internal matter at the port appeared in The Olympian last week, addressed the issue at the end of a port work session on Monday.
Downing said the commission heard from 10-20 people over the weekend as a result of the story about a vote of no confidence in Port executive director Sam Gibboney. He called the release of the information to the newspaper “injurious” and that it comes with repercussions.
Downing said he would no longer attend an upcoming Washington Public Ports Association meeting because the state’s 70 ports now “know about one of our internal issues and it shouldn’t be that way.”
Downing was referring to a July 12 story about how 22 employees across all divisions at the port sent a letter to the commission, outlining a vote of no confidence against Gibboney. The letter and an employee survey were shared with The Olympian.
“We do not believe Sam Gibboney has the capacity to provide the Port of Olympia with the quality leadership and oversight essential to the organization’s health, effectiveness, and functioning,” the letter reads. “The negative impact of the hostile and ineffective work environment we experience has worsened over the past two years.”
The letter also claims that staff has turned over at the port at the rate of more than 68 percent in the last three years.
After Downing aired his concerns, he turned to his fellow commissioners for reaction.
Commissioner Amy Evans acknowledged that “managing in a fishbowl is a unique experience.”
She also went on to say that she aims to be proactive instead of reactive and that she responds to every comment she receives, adding that the port needs to have a healthy culture to be successful.
Commissioner Bob Iyall called the “bad press” discouraging, and that it created a lot of feedback that “we probably wouldn’t have received.” He said he intends to respond to those who have written to the port.
“I’m committed to using my experience and expertise in an organization just like this to get us through these tough times, and I have the confidence that all of three of us will do the same,” Iyall said.
After the meeting, Downing told an Olympian reporter he respects the role of the free press, but reiterated his disappointment about the internal matter being aired so publicly.
He also said the port is not going to fire Gibboney. He said the commission has had some serious discussions with Gibboney and that there are new expectations for her.
“She’s doing some things right and some things that need to be corrected,” he said.
Downing recalled that the port used a thorough process to hire her. Thirty-five people applied to be executive director after former director Ed Galligan departed. The number of applicants was reduced to 17, and then seven were interviewed for the job, finally producing three finalists, including Gibboney.
She was hired in December 2018 and went to work the following month.
Downing said he intends to reach out to all 22 employees who signed the vote of no confidence letter.
“They certainly have our attention,” Downing said.
This story was originally published July 19, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
