Re-elect Zita for Port Commissioner

I want to address some specious rumors against Port Commissioner Zita. Rumors coming from the McClure camp are malicious and not in the spirit of honest campaign discourse. When one resorts to lies, they are lacking in substance. Let me set the record straight.

Zita did not start protests to stop military shipments. She did set up community listening sessions with all sides, to prevent violence in case there were military shipments.

Zita did not leak confidential Port information to the public. Zita learned details about a military ship from a citizen speaking at a public forum -- not from the Port. So how confidential was it?

Zita is a union organizer, supporting stronger labor standards for Port contracts, and she is supported by many unions.

Zita does not want to shut down the Marine terminal. In fact, she has told the Port to study better opportunities for longshoremen, who are underemployed in Olympia.

I am a 23-year Army veteran and married to Zita. She has been a stalwart supporter of my military service over the years. Zita has not let me down in 23 years, and she will continue to work hard for a better Port of Olympia. She has good ideas for a Port that can benefit all of Thurston County and not just a few.

Re-elect Port Commissioner Zita on Nov. 7. Also vote for Bill Fishburn, to give Zita a good partner for progress at the port.

This story was originally published October 18, 2017 at 2:46 PM with the headline "Re-elect Zita for Port Commissioner."