Port of Benton Commissioner

Elected Experience

This will be my first.

Other Professional Experience

40 years of Aerospace Experience; Development of the B2 Bomber Northrop Aircraft, Flight Test Operations Engineer NASA, Project Management Hanford, Licensed Commercial Pilot, Experimental Aircraft Builder and Test Pilot, and Founder/Owner two small businesses in Richland.

Education

Graduate of Richland High School, Bachelor of Science, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.

Community Service

Tutor and Chess Coach for Elementary School children, Coach for Destination Imagination and Lego League, Volunteer for Camp Patriot, and Volunteer for Salvation Army’s Thanksgiving Day Program.

Statement

I would be honored to represent our community as a Port of Benton Commissioner.

With over 40 years of experience in the aerospace industry, I am eager to apply my background to support and advance the Port of Benton’s mission. As an active pilot, I regularly engage with individuals and business leaders from across the country. These interactions provide me a unique opportunity to showcase the many advantages of doing business in Richland, Prosser, and Benton City. Our region offers key features that are attractive to investors and business owners, including available commercial sites, a skilled local workforce drawn from a population of over 57,000, and robust transportation infrastructure of air, rail, water, and interstate access. I believe these strengths align well with the Port’s commitment to driving economic development and creating new jobs for our community.

Additionally, as a local small business owner, I understand the narrow margin between operating costs and profitability. If elected, I would prioritize creating opportunities for locally grown businesses to thrive. Fostering long-term economic stability and generating sustainable revenue for both the Port and the Richland, Prosser, and Benton City communities.

Thank you for your consideration

Elected Experience
Port of Benton Commissioner since 2007

Other Professional Experience
After 35 years in the nuclear power plant industry, I retired from Energy Northwest in 2007. After retiring, I joined my son Jeff to build and operate our small business, a custom fabrication shop.

Education
1969 graduate of RHS; AA Degree from CBC; Project Management Certification from WSU Tri-Cities; Graduate of Leadership Tri-Cities; Professional Manager, Certification from NMA.

Community Service
Board Member, TRIDEC; Past Chairman, Richland Economic Development Committee; Past Chairman, Richland Utility Advisory Committee; Past President, Washington Public Port Association; Past President, Richland Rotary; Past Commodore, Richland Yacht Club.

Statement
As a native of Richland, I chose to raise my four children and eight grandchildren in this community. I continue to seek opportunities to strengthen our community by moving beneficial projects and policies forward.

Beyond my current community service commitments, I will continue to reduce the property taxes used to subsidize the Port’s tenants. This last 5-year effort to update 20- and 30-year-old land leases with Port tenants to current, fair market rates must continue, to provide a level playing field for all small businesses.

Over the last 5 years, I have championed efforts to rebuild the Port’s railroad assets after 20+ years of deferred maintenance by replacing railroad crossings and reducing wait times at Richland railroad crossings.

My primary focus is to use my 35 years’ experience in the nuclear power industry to continue facilitating and advocating with our community partners, both public and private, to support economic development. Development that will grow job opportunities in the emerging Advanced Nuclear Energy industry and its related supply chain manufacturing. I will strive to increase local manufacturing opportunities in small modular reactors, nuclear fuels, fusion reactors, hydrogen fuels, biofuels, fertilizers, and value-added agriculture.