3-way race for Port of Benton. It’s a vote on the commission’s priorities

Three candidates for the Port of Benton commission all bring strong connections to the sprawling port.

While the candidates share the port’s goal of fostering economic opportunity, they differ on priorities.

Christy Rasmussen is an educator and Hanford trainer who was appointed to the commission and is now seeking her first elected term. She is being challenged by Scott Keller, the port’s retired executive director, and by Clifton Dyer, owner of Sundance Aviation, a longtime tenant at the port-owned Richland Airport.

Rasmussen was appointed in late 2021 after being selected from four finalists to replace Bob Larsen, who retired with two years left on his term. The top two finishers in the Aug. 1 primary will advance to the Nov. 7 general election.

Port commissioners serve six-year terms and are paid $1,500 a month. They are eligible for health insurance and other port benefits and may participate in the Washington Public Employees Retirement System.

The Benton County Auditor mailed primary ballots last week. They must be postmarked or returned by election day to count. In Washington, voters can register up until the close of business on election day.

The port’s elected commission is the policy-making body that adopts a budget, sets priorities and oversees the executive director, Diahann Howard. Howard in turn manages day to day operations.

Its 2023 operating budget is $7.6 million and is chiefly supported by revenue from property taxes, leases and grants.

The Port of Benton is an economic development entity serving the area between the Columbia and Yakima rivers, taking in parts of Richland, West Richland, Benton City, Prosser and unincorporated Benton County.

It has extensive properties it leases to various business, operates airports in Richland and Prosser, a barge facility and is rehabilitating a 16-mile railroad, called the “Southern Extension.” The former Hanford track is used by BNSF Railway and Union Pacific to serve Richland manufacturers.

Its headquarters are in Richland, near the Columbia River barge facility where it receives retired Navy reactors. It also operates Crow Butte Park near Paterson.

Christy Rasmussen

Rasmussen is an educator whose resume includes serving as a trainer at Hanford, as principal at Christ the King Catholic School in Richland and at the Pasco alternative high school.

When Larson announced his retirement, she saw opportunity to serve on an elected commission. She said she immersed herself in learning everything she could about the role ports play in promoting economic development in Washington.

She was one of four finalists interviewed for the post, a group that included Scott Keller, the former executive director.

Rasmussen said she’s loved everything about the job.

“What I’ve learned is they have so much impact on our community and people don’t even realize it,” she said. “I find this one of the most intellectually stimulating activities I’ve been with.”

Her top priority is staying focused on 2020-2030 strategic plan.

“As a port, you can look in the rear view mirror. We have to be planning five and 10 years out,” she said.

Staying focused keeps the port nimble enough to apply for federal funds when they’re available.

“You have to have shovel-ready projects when FAA money comes available,” she said.

Rasmussen, who lives in West Richland, has raised $11,200 for her campaign, according to campaign disclosures to the Public Disclosure Commission. She and her husband draw income from her earnings from Central Plateau Cleanup Co., the Port of Benton and Energy Northwest and his job at Framatome Inc.

Clifton Dyer

Dyer is a professional pilot, flight instructor and owner of Sundance Aviation at the Richland Airport.

He and his late wife established their aviation business in 2007 in Richland. They previously operated Kennewick Aircraft at the now-closed Vista Field in Kennewick.

Dyer said he’s running to raise awareness of the importance of small businesses like his, which create jobs on property they lease from the public agency. The current leadership is overly focused on partnering with government at the expense of its private tenants, he believes.

Sundance is an airport tenant that pays more than $10,000 annually to the port.

At its peak, Sundance had 13 employees and $1.5 million in revenue providing turbine maintenance, airplane rentals, flying lessons and other services. He hoped to sell to a partner and retire, but he said, the plan faltered when the port sought to charge market-rate rents to unaffordable levels.

He said that killed the sale and Dyer said he is selling assets so he can close down the business. Dyer said he filed to run to draw attention to the shift in priorities away from small business toward initiatives such as the clean energy efforts.

“I don’t necessarily expect to get elected. I do expect to make some noise,” he said.

Dyer, who lives in north Richland, has not filed a campaign finance report with the Public Disclosure Commission. He draws income from Sundance and Social Security.

Scott Keller

Keller worked for the Port of Benton for nearly 30 years, first as airport director and then as executive director for 17 years. He retired in 2019.

He succeeded the prior director, Ben Bennett in 2002, and hired the current one, Diahann Howard.

A private pilot, he is a tenant at the Richland Airport. His company, The Axe LLC pays $760 in rent.

Keller said working for the port was a wonderful career and he wants to give back to the community that supported him.

He applauded the work carried out by his successors, notably work to restore the 16-mile railroad the port inherited from the Department of Energy.

The port regained control over the deteriorating line last year after a years-long legal battle with the former operator. The current port is investing millions to repair railroad crossings and replace failing ties to speed up trains as they move through Richland.

“They’re doing a lot of really good things,” he said. He praised a recent land sale in Prosser to an up-and-coming winery and said he wants to see more support for small businesses.

He said he supports developing a clean energy cluster in the Tri-Cities, but believes Energy Northwest should lead the effort. He is also concerned that the Walter Clore Center in Prosser is into fulfilling its mission to tell the story of Washington’s wine industry.

The center was built with state and federal grants but its former operator pulled out. Washington State University Tri-Cities stepped in to lease 100% of the building for $25,000 a year.

Keller, who lives in north Richland, has not filed a campaign finance report with the Public Disclosure Commission. He draws income from Social Security and a state retirement fund.

The Benton Franklin League of Women Voters is posting candidate forums online. Go to bit.ly/43oYcEr

Sign Up: Boom Town Tri-Cities

Stay up to date on Tri-Cities growth and development with our weekly business newsletter. Get the latest on restaurant and business openings and closings, plus the region’s top housing and employment news. Click here to sign up. In your inbox every Wednesday.