Port of Port Angeles commissioner to run for election

Steve Burke

Steve Burke

PORT ANGELES — Port of Port Angeles District 2 Commissioner Steve Burke, who was appointed in March 2016, announced Thursday he intends to run for election.

Burke, 52, was appointed unanimously after former Commissioner Jim Hallett resigned last year.

Burke, who has been the director of William Shore Memorial Pool for the past seven years, said the port needs to create more family-wage jobs and decrease its dependence on timber revenue.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

“I would like to see that balanced out so when and if the timber market changes, we’re not having to scramble and cut staff because we’re so dependent on that revenue,” he said.

Burke said the port’s plan of a marine industrial park should address both issues. He said port efforts such as the Composit Recycling Technology Center, the composites campus and marine trades help decrease the area’s dependence on the timber market.

“We want to balance that so not all our jobs relate to timber,” he said.

Among the port’s top priorities has been to regain commercial air service between Fairchild International Airport and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Burke said it will either take an “act of God” or an act of Congress for air service to return.

He said the port is in talks with U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, in hopes of creating legislation that would make the airport qualify for the federal Essential Air Service program.

“If we can get that designation of Essential Air Service, that would get us air service,” Burke said. “Without that, it’s almost impossible to find somebody that will want to try to run an air service.”

The Port Angeles airport is not eligible for the program now because Kenmore Air was operating when the federal government set the cutoff for the program.

“It was just bad timing,” Burke said. “We are working with Kilmer to try to fix that.”

Burke has lived in the Port Angeles area since 2001. He served on the Clallam County Charter Review Commission in 2015.

________

Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsula dailynews.com.

More in News

Jeannine Vaughn of Carlsborg looks a gems and jewelry at a display table operated by Steve Morgan of Joyce-based Lil’ Log Cabin Creations on Saturday at the Clallam County Rock, Gem and Jewelry Show at Vern Burton Community Center in Port Angeles. The show, hosted by the Clallam County Gem & Mineral Association, brought together rock enthusiasts with vendor booths and demonstrations highlighting the hobby. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Gem show

Jeannine Vaughn of Carlsborg looks a gems and jewelry at a display… Continue reading

Sequim City Council members will discuss March 24 how the city’s Fourth of July fireworks display, pictured in 2022, impacts wildlife and residents. Local advocates made the request to council members in February to stop the fireworks display and move the drone show away from wildlife habitat at Carrie Blake Community Park. (Michael Dashiell/Olympic Peninsula News Group file)
Sequim City Council to discuss fireworks

Grassroots group advocates for changes

Interact Club members fill jugs and buckets in the Dungeness River for the annual Walk for Water event on March 1. They walk about 4 miles roundtrip to symbolize how far some people must go for drinking water. They raised more than $5,000 to help build a well in a Ghana village. (John Pehrson)
Sequim High students raise money through Walk for Water

Interact Club helps fund another well in Ghana

Rick Dickinson.
Clallam County Habitat for Humanity chosen for pilot program

Liaison part of efforts to address tribal communites’ needs

Weekly flight operations scheduled

There will be field carrier landing practice operations for aircraft… Continue reading

Milan Pohl of Port Angeles points out the features of a greenhouse he built to cover a portion of his plot at the Fifth Street Community Garden in Port Angeles. Pohl said on Friday that the greenhouse and a twin structure on an adjoining bed would be used to grow eggplant, peppers and other heat-loving plants. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Community garden plot

Milan Pohl of Port Angeles points out the features of a greenhouse… Continue reading

x
Nominations open for Community Service awards

Forms due March 25; event scheduled for May 1

Influenza numbers trending down in Clallam, Jefferson counties

Public health officer says it’s not too late for vaccine

NOAA lease in Port Angeles on list of terminations

A lease held by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric… Continue reading

Tyler Leisten.
Leisten gradutes from basic law enforcement academy

Tyler Leisten has graduated from the Washington State Basic… Continue reading