Friday, April 26, 2013

New Seattle Port Commissioner Chosen

The Port of Seattle Commission has selected Stephanie Bowman to fill the seat vacated in March by former commissioner Rob Holland. Bowman, executive director of the Washington Asset Building Coalition, was previously the Port of Tacoma’s manager of federal government affairs.

“She has the background and skills to be an outstanding member of our commission and asset to the port,” Seattle Commission President Tom Albro said. “Her in-depth knowledge of port issues will enable her to hit the ground running.”

Bowman becomes the second new member of the five-person commission in as many months. In early March, Microsoft attorney Courtney Gregoire was chosen to fill the seat that was vacated earlier this year by Gael Tarleton, who was elected to the Washington House of Representatives.

Bowman, who was selected from seven finalists to fill the seat, worked at the Port of Tacoma from 2006 to 2011 and was a candidate in 2012 for the state House of Representatives, running in the same race as Holland.

Both lost in the primary.

Both Gregoire’s and Bowman’s positions on the commission are scheduled to be on the King County ballot in November; the winner in the race for Gregoire’s seat will serve until 2015, while the winner in the election for Bowman’s seat would receive a full four-year term.