General Election Candidates: Port Commissioner, District 3

Jack Miller

Jack Miller is a candidate for Port Commission Position 3.

"I am running for election to the Board of Commissioners for the Port of Columbia. I feel that my background in economics, business management and agriculture would be an asset in the pursuit of economic development.

"I have over thirty years of experience both working for a board of directors and serving on a board of directors. I have learned the importance of achieving consensus while being extremely careful in the handling of other peoples' money, in this case, tax dollars. I believe that money spent by this organization should have a positive, direct, measurable impact on the residents of this county.

"The only reason for the existence of this organization is to attract business and industry to this area. As I am now retired, I will have ample time to devote to community service and the achievement of this goal.

Since the Primary Election, Miller has added goals of bringing a farm implement dealer to Columbia County, and a mill so logs don't have to be hauled to Clarkston or Pilot Rock, Ore. Blue Mountain Station needs better promotion and visibility from the highway.

The Touchet Valley Trail has people in the county both in favor and against it. Miller questions a mailer sent out last summer in favor of the trail, but no one is claiming responsibility for it. Of the 22 organizations listed in favor of the trail on the mailer, Miller said nine are tax entities.

"People are tickled that it's not local taxes paying for the trail work. Taxes are taxes, some way or another, it comes out of my pocket."

"The Port-owned rail line is in poor shape and it may be more reasonable to salvage the rail line and pave the rail bed for the trail. It has moved 100 car loads in the last 12 months and the grain growers haul to the river. It costs $1 million a mile to rebuild rail line and $3 million a mile to build from scratch. If we scrap it and use the money to pave a bicycle trail, we've gotten rid of an asset that isn't economically feasible and everybody's happy."

Miller was born and raised in Prosser, Wash., and has been married to Barbara Miller 53 years. He moved to Waitsburg in 1975. Graduated Prosser High School and holds a B.S. in Agricultural Economics from W.S.U.

Experience: 31 years as Farm Manager of CDA Tribal Farm, Tensed, Id., 20 years owner Barjak Farms, Inc.

He's in the Washington State Trapshooter's Hall of Fame. He volunteers as a welding teacher for Waitsburg students and serves on the board of directors of the Walla Walla Gun Club, Spokane Gun Club and the Washington State Trapshooters Association.