The daily Astorian., February 14, 2017, Page 4A, Image 4

OPINION
4A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017
Founded in 1873
DAVID F. PERO, Publisher & Editor
LAURA SELLERS, Managing Editor
BETTY SMITH, Advertising Manager
CARL EARL, Systems Manager
JOHN D. BRUIJN, Production Manager
DEBRA BLOOM, Business Manager
OUR VIEW
Danny Miller/The Daily Astorian
Port of Astoria commissioners begin their meeting last week in Astoria.
Port of Astoria
Commission’s
petty infi ghting
needs to stop
A
storia’s Port Commission has a long, tired history of
petty infi ghting, personality clashes and meddling,
which has kept the P ort from achieving its modern
potential. Past antics have even driven top talent from its
leadership ranks.
Unfortunately, that history has been repeating itself lately
and it needs to stop before it becomes damaging.
Ports and their management are unlike nearly all other
public entities. They are economic and more like a for-profi t
private business — with commerce, leases, transportation and
logistics — than the services and functions that most city and
county governments provide and oversee. Port executives
usually have deep business backgrounds and are more like
business CEOs than the largely civil-oriented backgrounds of
county or city managers.
But despite those differences, port commissions — except
in rare instances — are composed of elected local commis-
sioners, the same as other local governing bodies. Port com-
missioners, however, are usually more out-of-sight, out-
of-mind for most residents because the damage from of a
roadway pothole is more visible and immediate for most peo-
ple than a downturn in business at a port. But the work of
ports and their commissions, especially in cities like Astoria,
is vitally important because of the large part a port plays
in a region’s economy. That’s exactly why the Astoria Port
Commission needs to stop its in-house squabbling and get
down to business. For the port, there’s no shortage of eco-
nomic and infrastructure issues to tackle.
The port is led by its executive director, Jim Knight, and
the commission is composed of its chairman, Robert Mushen,
and commissioners James Campbell, Stephen Fulton, Bill
Hunsinger and John Raichl.
As The Daily Astorian’s Edward Stratton reported last
week, Mushen, Campbell and Raichl have largely been sup-
portive of Knight’s efforts, while Fulton and Hunsinger have
been strong critics, often leading to a 3-2 vote divide.
Knight is well-respected by other port professionals as
Port of Portland Executive Director Bill Wyatt noted during
a recent visit here, saying, “Astoria is lucky to have him.”
Wyatt also said the P ort’s strife hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Dissenting opinion on ideas is usually good for any busi-
ness or governing body because in the right circumstances
— and voiced professionally with facts and suggestions — it
leads to moving only the best ideas forward. But therein lies
the rub with the Port Commission, because the dissension
from Fulton and Hunsinger isn’t along those lines. At times
it’s been caustic, sometimes needling and personal, and often
not about business ideas and policies for growing the P ort’s
business. Instead, it’s been time-wasting carping about parlia-
mentary procedure, petty technicalities and the P ort’s bylaws.
And, like a broken record, the dissension has often been sub-
tly aimed at Knight and the support for him.
Interestingly, the commission seats of Campbell, Fulton
and Raichl will each be up for grabs in the May election,
so the makeup of the commission could potentially change.
Hunsinger’s and Mushen’s terms run until 2019. The fi ling
period for the May election began earlier this month and ends
March 16, but nobody, including the incumbents, has publicly
announced or fi led for any of the three positions.
But no matter who fi lls the seats, the individual commis-
sioners need to fi nd whatever commonalities and interper-
sonal bridges they can to work with each other, and they need
to be better focused on moving the P ort forward if history is
not to be repeated.
Tourism is stronger
without borders
areas they otherwise would not have been able to
reach successfully. Since 2011, the partnership
has yielded close to $350,000 in cooperative dol-
t’s quite common for towns and cities to forge
lars to promote travel and tourism to the region.
friendly — or sometimes not so friendly —
During that same time period, hotel occupancy
rivalries against nearby community neighbors.
has increased in Clatsop County from 54.7 per-
This can be most common in sports, especially
cent in 2011 to 62.8 percent in 2016. Total hotel
when each community has its
spending during those fi ve years has increased
own high school and sports
from just under $60 million in 2011 to more than
teams. The Clatsop Clash —
$70 million fi ve years later.
where Astoria and Seaside
As growth has occurred, the partnership has
compete for
also sought out ways to be
athletic brag-
stronger and do things better.
ging rights is
Grant dollars from the Oregon
But sometimes Tourism Commission helped
a perfect example of this. But
rivalries can of course also
kick this coalition off in
neighbors and us
extend off the diamond, court
2011. So when Clatsop County
or sports fi eld.
awarded the partnership a grant
rivals come
In tourism, it might be a
of $16,800 in December, it
competition of restaurants,
together to do meant we could continue our
attractions and hotels. Many
growth. One of the purposes
more, and
make the claim of having the
of the new grant will be to
best of this or the best of that.
help develop our social media
be stronger
Marketers constantly point to
presence. The group is looking
top 10 lists that show an edge
to hire a local subcontractor
as one.
they may have over someone
to help boost visibility on
else. But sometimes neighbors
platforms such as Instagram,
and rivals come together to do
Facebook and YouTube.
more, and be stronger as one.
The Clatsop County grant was made possible
More than fi ve years ago, the Seaside Visitors
by room-tax dollars collected in the unincorpo-
Bureau and Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of
rated areas of Clatsop County. Per state law , 70
Commerce forged a relationship to use part of
percent of dollars collected in municipalities or
its individual funding to also promote this area
counties with room taxes in place are restricted
as Oregon’s North Coast . We’d still promote
for use in funding tourism promotion or tourism
ourselves as individual communities, but we
related facilities.
would also leverage some of our budget together,
Tourism is a vital part of our north coast econ-
meaning we could stretch our dollars a little bit
omy, throughout Clatsop County. Tourism shows
further. This was in the fall of 2011. The Cannon
no borders, especially to those that are visiting
Beach Chamber of Commerce joined the coalition
here. Visitors are simply seeking a retreat from
in 2012, and the partnership has shown strong
daily life, and tourism across Oregon’s North
growth over the last fi ve years, while continuing
Coast allows for just that. Proof positive that
to show tangible results for North Coast tourism.
when we all work together, we all win.
The partnership has allowed the four commu-
Jon Rahl is the director of tourism for the Sea-
nities to leverage more advertising dollars than
side Visitors Bureau and assistant general man-
they could have individually, and to advertise in
ager of the Seaside Civic and Convention Center.
By JON RAHL
For The Daily Astorian
I
Betty Jo Hoidal and her boyfriend Brad Burton, both of Vancouver, Wash., find a spot
to themselves for a sunset fire south of the Turnaround on the beach in Seaside.
Alex Pajunas/The Daily Astorian File Photo