1. Name as it will appear on the ballot
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First Name |
Middle Initial or Nick Name |
Last Name |
2. Office sought (include office, jurisdiction, position/district number):
3. Are you the incumbent? Yes No
4. How long have you resided in this district/city?
5. How long have you resided in King County?
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My entire life |
6. Is the office sought partisan or nonpartisan? Partisan Nonpartisan
CAMPAIGN CONTACTS
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Campaign Name: |
Edwards for Port |
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Address: |
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City/State/Zip: |
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Campaign Phone: |
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1. Beginning with the most recent position, please list public offices which you have held. Include positions on appointive Boards or Commissions.
Public Office |
Elective or Appointive? |
Dates Held |
Leadership Role (if any) |
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Commission President 2002/2005 Commission Vice President 2001/2004
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Freight Mobility Strategic Authority & Council
Puget Sound Water Quality Authority & Council
Washington Public Ports Association
Association of Washington Cities Board
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Appointed
Appointed
Elected by Members
Elected by Members
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12/31/1999 1998-2000
1996-1999
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Project Prioritization Chair
Elected President 2004
Elected President 1996-97
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2. If you ran for public office but were not elected, please list those races below:
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Office Title |
Year of Run |
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In this section, we are seeking responses that reflect the four ratings criteria: involvement, effectiveness, character, and knowledge. These are defined as follows:
1. In a page or less, why are you running for this office? (Note: the interview committee will be given a copy of this statement before your interview; at the beginning of your interview you will have the opportunity to expand on this statement in any way you wish.)
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I bring nearly two decades of experience to the critical issues that determine whether or not our Port will be able to compete in the global economy and a track record of leadership on turning that experience into policy that benefits people throughout King County.
Since I became a Commissioner, the number of Port-related jobs has grown by over 30,000 as I have voted to make investments to double our cargo container capacity, creating hundreds of new family wage jobs, helped create 2,000 new jobs in the tourism industry and made peace with Sea-Tac's neighbors so we could finally build the 3rd Runway.
I've worked with regional leaders to come up wht solutions to some of our worst traffic chokepoints. As a member of the I-405 and Hwy 520 Advisory Boards, I've helped come up with plans that are already underway (in the case of I-405) or have been accepted by the Governor as the preferred solution (in the case of Hwy 520). When light rail was stuck a mile short of the airport, I voted to extend a hand, so starting in 2009 riders will be able to get to Sea-Tac's front door.
I believe our Port's strategic advantage in the future is by being the cleanest, greenest Port in the world.That's why I voted to put nearly $20 million into Puget Sound cleanup efforts and sponsored a landmark agreement between the Ports of Seattle, Tacoma and Vancouver, BC, to dramatically reduce harmful air emissions throughout the Northwest.
Further, I've watched out for the public's dime. In 2002, I was the lone vote against the historic increase in the Port's property tax levy and as a member of the Audit Committee in 2006, I pushed for a review of Port projects to reduce wasteful spending and institute performance benchmarks in all divisions. Earlier this year, I spoke out against the Port's $200 million contribution to Seattle's shrunken waterfront tunnel, even though past Port management supported it.
The Port is an integral part of our region's economy. With a new CEO and three first-term Commissioners, I believe my regional relationships built over the last two decades are more important than ever in order to tackle the issues that keep us competitive like mobility and environmental protection. That's why I've been endorsed by leaders on both sides of the political aisle and throughout King County including:
County Executive Ron Sims County Council Chair Larry Gossett State Senator Ed Murray State Senator Margarita Prentice State Representative Fred Jarrett State Representative Judy Clibborn Bellevue Mayor Grant Degginger Renton Mayor Kathy Keolker Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke Sea-Tac Mayor Gene Fisher Federal Way Mayor Mike Park Shoreline Mayor Bob Ransom Tukwila Mayor Steve Mullet Seattle City Councilmembers Jan Drago, Richard McIver, Richard Conlin, David Della and Tom Rasmussen
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2. Describe your most important personal characteristics or traits as they relate to the office you seek.
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First, my ability to work well with others. As someone who has been in local government for 17 years, there is no more important attribute to success. When I was a Renton City Councilmember, we banded together to revive our decaying downtown. As president of the PSRC, I was able to work with leaders throughout the region to come up with growth management and transportation goals that met the needs of our various communities. As a Port Commissioner, I'm working with County officials as well as Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad to create an historic landswap that will protect miles of Eastside land from development, create an eventual link to the light rail system, reduce management duplication at our two airports and create an intermodal hub to be shared with the Port of Tacoma to increase our competitiveness and take trucks off our streets.
Second, my ability to understand both sides of an issue. Having been a Renton City Councilmember prior to being elected to the Port, I understood how cities felt about large regional agencies that usurped their power. One of my great successes as a Port Commissioner was getting the Port to understand that it needed to stop litigating the 3rd Runway and start listening. I used that cache as a suburban city councilmember to reach out to neighbors of the airport and to work with the Dept. of Ecology. By listening and cooperating, we will be completing one of the most environmentally sensitive airport runways in North America, helped keep open several hundred units of affordable housing for six years, invested millions in insulating homes and the Highline School District and worked to create the Southwest King County Economic Development Agency so airport communities could benefit from the additional air traffic.
Third, my ability to be quietly effective without seeking the spotlight. As you've probably read, there was a recent troubling event at the Port that put into dispute whether the Commission had authorized a retirement package for former CEO Mic Dinsmore. When Port attorneys first alerted us to the memo that is at the center of the investigation, I resisted the temptation to pre-judge facts and publicly condemn my colleagues. Instead, I continued a conversation with all of my colleagues that has led them to agree to a fair, impartial and outside investigation of the matter that will allow us to decide on a proper course of actions based on fact, while at the same time preventing the Commission from splintering into un-governable factions that would have precluded us from doing the public's business. |
3. Please describe in sufficient detail, one to three accomplishments or contributions of which you are most proud. These examples should illustrate effective skills and capabilities you think apply to the office you are seeking. These accomplishments may have occurred at any time in your personal, professional, or public life.
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In my public life, there are several accomplishments I'm particularly proud of because of the long-term positive effects they will have for the region and generations to come.
1) As I mentioned earlier, I played a critical role in the Port finally being able to secure permits for the 3rd Runway. By convincing management to work with engineers, environmentalists and surrounding neighborhoods, rather than the litigious route that was their previous modus operandi, we not only secured the permits and will complete the runway within a year, but we've done the right things to protect habitat, water quality and the economic vitality of surrounding airport communities.
2) My sponsorship of the Puget Sound Maritime Air Inventory was the first extensive look into the harmful effects on public health from maritime industry air emissions. I helped get this study extended to the Canadian border and now we have a truly Northwest air emissions agreement that goes from Tacoma to Vancouver, BC. As a result, ship borne particulate emissions will be reduced by 70 percent and reduce cargo handling emissions by 30 percent. While the idea had been considered, it took my ability to work with the Ports, my fellow Commissioners and the maritime industry to achieve this landmark goal.
3) As a member and co-chair (1995-2000) of the Growth Management Planning Council from 1991-2000, I co-authored King County's county-wide growth management policies. This required balancing the needs of various communities as well as the concerns of rural landowners, environmentalists, suburbanites and city dwellers. As a result, King County will protect its more rural areas from development and will instead grow in a more sustainable fashion.
4) Airport and seaport security. Post 9/11, it became a challenge to run an airport, let alone one that had over 20 million passengers each year. By working with Senator Murray and the federal government, within a year of the terrorist attacks, we were cited as a model for the future of airport security in this country. Futher, by working with the federal government, we were granted $39 million for a pilot program to have sensors installed in cargo. |
4. Please list or describe your current and past activities in the community in which you have acquired skills that relate to the office you seek. Include your role in the activity and the year(s) in which you were involved. Involvement consists of many areas such as family, neighborhood, community, employment, or public life.
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CURRENT PUBLIC SERVICE
2006-2007 Vice Chair, Port Jobs--through this organization, we provide job training skills, financial planning assistance and connect economically disadvantaged individuals to family wage jobs in the Port community. So far, we have found jobs for over 7,000 people.
2006-2007 Port of Seattle Audit Committee--As a member of the Committee, we pushed for a review of all Port projects to reduce wasteful spending and institute performance benchmarks in all divisions.
2000 - Port of Seattle Commission – elected 1999 (2002/2005 President & Chair)--During my role as Chair, we set records for cargo containers through our Port as well as became only the second Port in North America to offer shore power for cruise ships to elimiate diesel emissions.
2004—Washington Public Ports Association--President---Voice for all public ports in the State of Washington to provide information for legislatiors and Port Commissioners. 2002 - Washington Public Ports Association - Vice President
1993 - Puget Sound Regional Council ( President, 2000 - 2002)--Working with regional leaders from King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties, we adoped both regional economic development initiatives as well as regional transportation plans to accommodate growth and traffic patterns 20 years into the future.
2000 - Port of Seattle/Port of Tacoma Joint Inland Infrastructure Committee--Cooperative committee to collaborate on freight mobility infrastructure. This committee set the geographic parameters for the Puget Sound Maritime Air Emissions Inventory.
2002-2007 - SR 509/ I-5 Freight and Congestion Relief Project--As a result, the Port offered to donate $25 million worth of land in order to widen this key freight mobility corridor.
1991 - Growth Management Planning Council - King County (Co-Chair Chair 1995 - 2000)--I co-authored the county-wide growth management plan required by the State of Washington after it passed GMA.
PAST PUBLIC SERVICE
2002-2006 - Southwest King County Economic Development Initiative - Vice Chair--I served on this board to help airport communities benefit from the additional airport traffic due to the 3rd Runway.
2005-2007— Highline Forum-Groundbreaking partnership for the Port and airport communities to sit down to end litigation surrounding the 3rd Runway.
2000-2005 - SR 520 Trans-Lake Washington Project--I worked with regional leaders to come up with a preferred solution to replacing 520 that was presented to the Governor.
1999-2004 - I-405 Congestion Relief Project – Design Team Executive Committee--Working with regional leaders, we came up with a plan to expand I-405 that was accepted and funded by local, state and federal officials.
1989 -2000 Renton City Council - Re-elected 1993, 1997 (1993 & 1998 Council President)--Governing body of the city of Renton. Among other things, we wrote Renton's first comprehensive economic development plan that led to a boom in investment and development in Renton's downtown core.
1998 -2000 Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board--Prioritized critical freight mobility projects throughout Washington state. Worked with city, port and county governments.
1998 - 1999 Trans-Lake Washington Study Committee--Worked with communities on both sides of Lake Washington to come up with an acceptable solutions to trans-lake transportation that led to the decision to replace the 520 Bridge.
1996 - 1999 Puget Sound Water Quality Authority and Council--City representative confirmed by the State Senate and appointed by then Gov. Mike Lowry. Responsible for setting standards
1992 - 1998 Association of Washington Cities Board (President, 1996 - 1997)--Responsible for coordinating relationships between cities and counties with regards to growth management legislation. As President, oversaw the budget approval process and policy direction for the organization. Initiated an on-going series of meetings between cities and counties to help resolve issues between governments.
1995 - 1996 Duwamish Coalition (Job Creation subcommittee, Co-Chair)--Tasked with studying types of jobs and waste levels to establish a baseline for future progress on increasing industrial jobs. Additionally, we sponsored a Duwamish Community Job Fair to connect employers with potential industrial employees and showcase job opportunties.
1992 - 1994 GMPC Fiscal/Economic Development Task Force--Conducted a fiscal analysis on the proposed county-wide planning policies to determine whether they were economically viable.
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The Port of Seattle's primary mission is to be a leader in providing services and facilities to accommodate the transportation of cargo and passengers by air, water and land; to provide a home for the fishing industry; and to foster regional economic vitality and a better quality life for King County citizens.
The Port Commission's specific role is to set the policy direction and priorities for Port activities. Ultimately, we are responsible for the entire organization, but specifically, we hire the Port's Chief Executive Officer who is charged with following our policy direction and meeting our priorities.
Like any multi-member organization, it is critical to be able to build coalitions in order to effect policy. For the Port, three votes are required to set or revoke policy, but we try to do better than that. Due to the long term public capital projects the Port is responsible for, we work very hard to get to consensus. To be an effective Commissioner, one must be able to work with others of varying backgrounds, have a good understanding of regional governance and how they interlink to work in the best interests of residents and businesses.
In addition, the Port has taken on an important economic vitality role in the community as the gateway to Puget Sound's trade based economy.
Finally, in light of recent events, the Port now has an increased responsibility in ensuring the safe travel of goods and passengers.
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EDUCATION BACKGROUND SUMMARY
The Municipal League’s Candidate Evaluation Report is distributed to voters in print and/or on our website. It includes a summary of the candidate’s education. Please summarize your education in 120 characters (letters, punctuation, and space all combined). The League will delete material that exceeds the space limit by beginning with the last entry. Suggested order is (degree) (subject) (school) (year, if desired).
Note: If this question is left blank the League will not include education information in your candidate profile.
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Univ. of Washington, Graduate School of Engineering, 1973-1974 Univ. of Washington, B.S Aeronautical Engineering, B.S Physic, 1973 Bellevue High School, Graduate,1969
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FOR PUBLICATION IN CANDIDATE EVALUATION REPORT
The Municipal League’s Candidate Evaluation Report also includes a summary of each candidate’s civic involvement. Please summarize your civic involvement in the space below. We will make every attempt to include the information in the Candidate Evaluation Report as submitted. Due to space restrictions in the Report, your response is limited to 500 characters (letters, punctuation, and spaces all combined). It is important that you list your involvement beginning with the most important and ending with the least important. If you exceed the length of response permitted, or if the League should find it necessary to shorten responses for publication purposes, deletions will be made beginning with the last item listed.
Note: This information will appear verbatim on the League’s Candidate Evaluation Report. If this question is left blank, the Municipal League will not include information on your civic involvement in the Report.
Check here if you would like the Municipal League to copy the first 500 characters from Question 4 to paste into this section.
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CURRENT PUBLIC SERVICE 2006-2007 Vice Chair, Port Jobs 2006-2007 Port of Seattle Audit Committee 2000 - Port of Seattle Commission – elected 1999 (2002/2005 President & Chair) 2004—Washington Public Ports Association--President 2002 - Washington Public Ports Association - Vice President 1993 - Puget Sound Regional Council ( President, 2000 - 2002) 2000 - Port of Seattle/Port of Tacoma Joint Inland Infrastructure Committee 2002-2007 - SR 509/ I-5 Freight and Congestion Relief Project 1991 - Growth Management Planning Council - King County (Co-Chair Chair 1995 - 2000)
PAST PUBLIC SERVICE 2002-2006 - Southwest King County Economic Development Initiative - Vice Chair 2005-2007— Highline Forum 2000-2005 - SR 520 Trans-Lake Washington Project 1999-2004 - I-405 Congestion Relief Project – Design Team Executive Committee 1989 -2000 Renton City Council - Re-elected 1993, 1997 (1993 & 1998 Council President) 1998 -2000 Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board 1998 - 1999 Trans-Lake Washington Study Committee 1996 - 1999 Puget Sound Water Quality Authority and Council 1992 - 1998 Association of Washington Cities Board (President, 1996 - 1997) 1995 - 1996 Duwamish Coalition (Job Creation subcommittee, Co-Chair) 1992 - 1994 GMPC Fiscal/Economic Development Task Force
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Finished!
If at all possible, send your response to the Municipal League electronically as an attachment, or insert it into an e-mail message (cec@munileague.org). Mail and fax numbers are listed below. If the League has not contacted you to schedule an interview, please call the League office at your earliest convenience.
Don’t forget to send the following to the Municipal League: a resume, a photo, campaign literature, and, if you are an incumbent, constituent newsletters and other materials. Please use the check-off list on the cover sheet of this packet to indicate which items you have sent.
Candidate Evaluation Coordinator: Jason Thibedeau
Seattle, WA 98104-1614 Fax: (425) 671-0506 Website: www.munileague.org