Vancouver Port Commissioner Takes Helm of Washington Public Ports Assoc.

VANCOUVER, WA-The Washington Public Ports Association elected long-time member Robert Moser to the role of president for 2002. Moser, also top commissioner with the Port of Vancouver, will now serve on the WPPA six-member executive committee and lead the 70-organization’s membership for 2002.

Moser says he is proud to be one of the few port commissioners with public sector background to serve as WPPA president. He believes it is appropriate because the origin of ports was to prevent monopoly of the Washington state waterways by special interest groups, and providing land stewardship under port jurisdiction.

“Ports still debate the issue of selling land versus leasing it,” says Moser, who was elected to the commission in 1987 and now is serving out his third six-year term. “But having land in long-term ownership by a public entity is almost always the best approach for communities.”

This is the second time since 1937 a Port of Vancouver commissioner has been elected to this prestigious position. The previous WPPA president from Vancouver was Otto Neth, president of Columbia Machine Inc., who served in 1974 to 1975.

The WPPA, in its 40th year, represents 76 public port districts throughout the state of Washington and serves as the hub through which ports work cooperatively to share information and address issues on trade, transportation, and the environment.