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Monday, March 18, 2024
March 18, 2024

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Ross, LaBrant take early lead in port contest

One supports oil terminal plan while other is opposed

By , Columbian Port & Economy Reporter
Published:

Eric LaBrant and Lisa Ross will apparently face off in the Nov. 3 general election for the District 2 seat on the Port of Vancouver commission, according to the first returns tabulated in Tuesday’s primary election.

It’s a contest that would offer voters a stark choice on at least one issue that looms large in the port campaign: the proposal to build the nation’s largest rail-to-marine oil transfer terminal at the port.

LaBrant opposes the plan by Tesoro Corp., a petroleum refiner, and Savage Cos., a transportation company. Ross supports it.

Initial returns showed Ross with 25.53 percent of the vote, leading a pack of seven candidates running in the primary for a shot at succeeding Commissioner Nancy Baker, who did not seek re-election to the port’s three-member board. LaBrant was second, with 21.48 percent. More results will be tabulated today.

“I feel like it’s a victory for Vancouver’s future and for jobs in our area,” Ross said of her standing in the initial returns. She said she’ll continue her “pro-jobs and pro-business approach” in the general election campaign.

LaBrant noted the spread of votes among seven candidates. He said “we’ll be doing pretty well” in the general election if he gathers support from voters who cast ballots in the primary for other anti-oil terminal candidates such as Nick Ande. “November’s looking pretty good,” LaBrant said.

The other candidates in the primary race for the District 2 port commission were Scott Dalesandro, Bob Durgan, Peter Harrison and Bill Hughes.

For perspective, the last time a Port of Vancouver election featured a contested race was in November 2007, according to the Clark County Elections Department.

Only registered voters in District 2 were allowed to vote in the primary. In the general election, all voters in the port district may cast ballots.

The port manages roughly 2,100 acres for industrial and marine development. It handles a variety of cargoes, including wheat, Subaru vehicles, wind-energy components and scrap metal.

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Columbian Port & Economy Reporter