Primary Primer: 3 questions for Port of Olympia candidates

NOTE: This article has been updated to include responses from candidate Anthony Hemstad and is being republished.

The official Voters Guide to the Aug. 5 primary election has a lot of good information about the candidates for Thurston County races. But it doesn’t ask the candidates about some of the most pressing issues our communities are facing.

So, The Olympian reached out to candidates in contested primary races and asked some of those pointed questions. Below you’ll find the answers we received from the three candidates for Port of Olympia commissioner.

The Aug. 5 primary will narrow that race from three candidates to two who will face off in the November election.

The Olympian has posted similar stories on the Olympia and Tumwater city council and school district primaries elsewhere on our website.

For more information about voting, visit the Thurston County website. Ballot drop boxes are the most efficient way to return your ballot. There are 27 ballot drop boxes located across the county. Ballots must be deposited in the drop boxes by 8 p.m. April 5..

Do you support the marine terminal? Why or why not?

Krag Unsoeld: The Port of Olympia marine terminal is facing some major challenges. Not least of these is the global warming ensuring sea level rise and warming ocean temperatures.

Then there is the Deschutes River Estuary restoration. When the 5th Avenue dam is removed, sediments will be transported into Budd Inlet, making it more expensive to continue shipping.

Finally, the lack of dissolved oxygen and the lack of phytoplankton has destroyed the food chain. The only way to combat these multiple threats is through science-based near-shore habitat restoration. We need to bring back salt marshes, tide flats and estuaries to recover the ecosystem upon which we all depend.

I support transitioning the ways in which we are using what is currently the marine terminal to effectively respond to climate change and restore the environmental system in the South Sound. This transition should include creating a public park as I explain in my response to the third question. The restoration of the Deschutes estuary provides ideal timing to start restoring the nearshore habitat on the Port peninsula.

Anthony Hemstad: The Marine Terminal helps diversify Thurston County’s economy, provides family-wage jobs and can be an important connector for our region for moving needed supplies and materials in times of emergency.

The Marine Terminal has a contract with Weyerhaeuser through 2032, and the Port should be doing everything possible to maximize the Terminal’s economic viability through that time. This will be difficult, particularly with the new tariffs that are hurting Olympia’s biggest export product (logs to China) and import partner (new 50% tariff on Brazilian goods).

Earlier in my career I was President/CEO of the World Trade Center Association offices in both Tacoma and San Francisco. I have direct experience in successfully expanding trade. While it will be challenging, I think Olympia could increase trade particularly with Taiwan and Vietnam.

I recently met with Vietnam’s new trade consul during his first visit to Washington. As Vietnam just dropped its tariffs on US products to zero, they could be a natural market for the logs no longer being purchased by China. The Port needs to capitalize on more prospects like this to increase the economic viability of the marine terminal in the years ahead. Having a commissioner with relevant experience will help.

Rebecca Faust: I support maintaining the marine terminal.

Do you support an increase of flights into and out of the Olympia Regional Airport or the possibility of commercial flights?

Krag Unsoeld: No. The Olympia Regional Airport should continue to provide existing levels of service to existing airport users. There is no requirement that the airport provides greater services for existing users or adds new users to the airport operations.

People living around the airport and those who hear the aircraft using the airport have made it clear they do not want any increase in the number of flights into and out of the airport. This includes commercial flights. As a Port Commissioner I want to respect the desires of Thurston County residents and not expand the airport’s footprint or operations.

I would like to explore ways in which solar panels could be mounted in open space around the airport to generate electricity without impacting endangered species.

Anthony Hemstad: Today commercial flights servicing Olympia don’t make financial sense due to the high cost of jet fuel. This will change as electric aircraft (including eVTOL) revolutionize the utilization of smaller airports like Olympia.

I volunteer with the Port’s Citizen’s Advisory Committee and Chair its Economic Development Committee. We’ve been researching this issue and hosted expert speakers regarding this technology. Electric aircraft make service to Olympia feasible as their fuel costs are a small fraction (about 1/40th) of similarly sized standard planes. Electric aircraft are much quieter than conventional planes/helicopters and are emissions-free, making them better neighbors for the airport community.

With current technology, these are really “air taxis” carrying about five passengers up to about 300 miles. They could connect Olympia to SeaTac or PDX (Portland) to get onto larger conventional planes – or flying directly to smaller regional airports like the Tri-Cities, Wenatchee or Bellingham. The low operating costs should make them cheaper than Ubers going a similar distance. These are expected to be operational in LA for the 2028 Olympics.

We should plan for electric charging technology at Olympia Airport along with other airports in the region to hasten the introduction of electric flights in the coming years.

Rebecca Faust: I’m open to increasing flights, assuming we have the capacity, a healthy budgetary plan for any related expenses, etc. While in some ways it might be nice to have a commercial flights option, I understand there are societal, economic, and environmental considerations and discussions to be had. If we are going to seriously consider that, I would want to have public forums to involve the community, as well as make sure it is economically sound policy.

What types of development would you like to see on the Port peninsula?

Krag Unsoeld: Much of the Port Peninsula primarily serves one major corporation, which is also the largest landowner in the state of Washington – Weyerhaeuser. The marine terminal has lost money from shipping for more than a decade. I want to see the peninsula transformed so more citizens can benefit. From what I have heard while doorbelling during my campaign, the public wants to convert what is now a log yard into a public park combined with sites for small businesses. The businesses would be small, local artisans.

People also want waterfront access to launch paddle boards, canoes, and small sailboats. Other options for development on the peninsula are solar energy collectors and multifamily residences. As commissioner I will request staff to begin considering all of these. Directly, or indirectly, we all pay the property taxes to fund the Port. I want to do what I can to allow all of us to enjoy using our Port. I want Port policy choices to benefit citizens and the environment 200 years into the future.

Anthony Hemstad: The Port Peninsula could be one of the most remarkable locations in Thurston County and a big draw for our community and tourists. It is nowhere near its “highest and best use” today, with many undeveloped lots, some in need of continued environmental remediation. These improvements can and should be made. Other places have done it, and Olympia can too.

When I was President/CEO of the World Trade Center Tacoma, we were directly involved with helping Point Ruston transform its waterfront site from a polluted and unused brownfield site into what is now a vibrant community gathering place that is clean, safe and provides needed tax revenue for the region.

While portions of the Port Peninsula are made up of fill material, this can be safely built upon. This is done in many other locations around the world. Putting buildings on solid foundations and using earthquake resilient materials like cross-laminated timber will enable the Peninsula to be safely developed.

Public amenities like parks, performance venues and water access will continue to be key features of the Peninsula, but to pay for them and enhance the overall area, there also needs to be revenue producing activities and development on the Peninsula.

Rebecca Faust: One idea I had was that it would be nice to have an event center of some sort somewhere. Right now, that’s just an idea, and would require further economic analysis and consideration of where to put it, and community input, before anything like that should become a reality.

In general, I support community-friendly commercial development such as retail, alongside the marine terminal and related businesses — provided any building is consistent with expected sea level rise, and the Port is earning (rather than losing) money as a landlord.

Maybe a maritime museum would be nice. But again, it depends. Community interest, financial considerations, and such, come into play.

This story was originally published August 1, 2025 at 6:03 PM.