Bill Bryant: Remarks as Incoming 2009 Commission President

January 6, 2009

I am honored by confidence my fellow commissioners have placed in me. I join others in thanking Commissioner Creighton for his leadership during a difficult time, and I applaud him for his efforts to begin rebuilding the public’s trust in the Port of Seattle.

I understand it is customary for incoming presidents to make remarks that set a tone for the coming year, and while thinking about the coming year, I was struck by how much ours is rapidly changing world.

New shipping routes, new vessels, new competitors, new financial and environmental pressures all demand this port commission exercise financial stewardship. Every one of these new challenges demand we provide a long-term vision for SeaTac, the waterfront, the North Pacific Fishing Fleet, and for the competitive positioning of Puget Sound’s ports.

Whether or not we provide this long term vision will determine whether this commission meets the leadership needs of our growing region. Tens of thousands of families in our region, and our increasingly fragile environment depend upon Seattle and Tacoma’s port commissions providing leadership, stewardship and vision.

As Commissioner Tarleton mentioned a few moments ago, 2009 could be a difficult year. This is not a year for timid or mediocre decisions that affect our competitiveness, Puget Sound, traffic and freight flows, preserving our maritime industrial waterfront and enhancing public access and open space.

This is a year for visionary initiatives that will cement the competitive position of Puget Sound’s ports in a rapidly changing world. This is a year for visionary partnerships that will restore Puget Sound’s natural vitality. This is a year for initiatives that will generate environmentally sustainable, trade related, family wage jobs, not just for this coming year, but for years to come.