Port citizens’ committee reviews prospective members

The Port of Olympia Citizens Advisory Committee (POCAC) interviewed five more potential members during a meeting held Tuesday, November 8.

The committee had reviewed five members back in October, but called for more members as the second district of the Port lacked representation.

Port Commissioner Amy Evans-Harding told the candidates that they hope to utilize POCAC as a citizen engagement body.

“We have this great body of work with our Vision 2050 and Destination Waterfront plan, and it calls for a citizen implementation team,” Harding said. “I think I speak for all three of us [commissioners] when I say we really see the POCAC as being this great bridge between the commission and the public.”

As with the previous applicants, most of the new candidates were from the public sector and have a background in environmental work. The new applicants were:

• Bob Butts, who worked for the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, state legislature, and the State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources;
• Robert Wubbena, a retired environmental engineer;
• Anthony Hemstad, who worked in the US Senate, the World Trade Centers in Tacoma and San Francisco, and was the city manager for the City of Maple Valley;
• James Thornton, an environmental consultant who worked for the Department of Ecology;
• Darlene Kemery, a former graphic designer for The Olympian

Harding also acknowledged that previous projects from POCAC have not borne fruit but assured the candidates that the committee will be utilized more effectively.

“I think previously, there was a lot of time and energy spent on projects that often didn't come to fruition. I want to assure you that we really want to utilize your time. [POCAC] will be implementing really big exciting stuff and helping us listen to the community and ensure we're getting it right.”

POCAC is currently looking for more members as they only have four people on the committee. The committee can have up to 12 members but must have at least nine.

Interested community members can apply at the committee’s website.