Voting for Zita returns scientist to port commission

I applaud The Olympian for endorsing E.J. Zita for Port of Olympia commissioner. As commissioner, Zita, a physics professor, would provide the invaluable analytical perspective of a scientist to the three person port commission and the local perspective of farmers.

The Port of Olympia has significant properties, the airport in Tumwater and the marine terminal on Budd Inlet. How these port properties are developed in the future will greatly influence the environmental quality of Thurston County. Thoughtful and long-term wise growth decisions will be crucial in the next few years.

Port commissioners have two key roles. They can provide the vision for our future port growth. And they are responsible for reviewing many decisions made by the staff under the direction of the executive director. With climate change and Thurston County’s concern for protecting its water quality and environmental quality in general, it would be good to continue with the decision made in 2013 by the electorate to have a scientist to balance out a port commission that tended to focus primarily on economic considerations.

E.J. Zita would provide the scientific and local emphasis in her decision making.

This story was originally published October 27, 2015 at 11:36 AM with the headline "Voting for Zita returns scientist to port commission."