Doug vs Doug

Clearly, Doug Karlberg’s announcement, he’d be a candidate for Doug Smith’s position at the Port of Bellingham, was the highlight of the week for local political junkies.

Indeed both the Her

Clearly, Doug Karlberg’s announcement, he’d be a candidate for Doug Smith’s position at the Port of Bellingham, was the highlight of the week for local political junkies.

Indeed both the Her

By

Clearly, Doug Karlberg's announcement, he'd be a candidate for Doug Smith's position at the Port of Bellingham, was the highlight of the week for local political junkies.

Indeed both the Herald's and NW Citizen's comments ran overwhelmingly in support of the self styled, online iconoclast's decision.

In his favor is a public tired and suspicious of all things POB. And particularly in the case of those races, the realization that incumbency has been both carried to the extreme and reduced to absurdity.

What accomplishments can the present Port Commissioners claim after all these years in office?

Smith, who was first elected fifteen years ago, has idly watched the bureaucracy swell and management entrench and multiply, the end of which is the need to continually tax the community to subsidize operations that just can't make ends meet.

During his three terms, POB has achieved a degree of arrogance which renders it nigh on impossible for the public, or their other elected representatives, to participate in what is really the public's business.

Perhaps the biggest blunder they've made was the deal with Georgia-Pacific to assume its toxic site on the waterfront. By so doing, POB allowed G-P to walk away from their mess and the liability they'd created. Instead of the public being able to insist G-P exhaustively clean up the site, their port stepped in and became a proponent of an “economically reasonable” effort.

The community has, as a result, been left to struggle with the enormous problem of re-developing the waterfront, a process POB was not qualified to pursue, which has bogged down in a horribly divisive public debate characterized by finger pointing and name calling.

Periodically POB throws a public tantrum, sometimes threatening the city, sometimes making fools of themselves in letters to other elected officials.

And of course the POB plan includes the thoroughly wacko idea to waste the water treatment lagoon by turning it into a mega-yacht basin. If you were to do a cost benefit analysis of the scheme you'd understand why they have to keep taxing county residents.

Oh, the list could go on and on. So why in the world would anyone want to send Smith back for four more years of the same, when you could shake things up with a guy like Karlberg?

Well, I've gotten answers to that question from a number of voters and political observers. Most who thought about it just don't take Karlberg seriously. They don't disagree with his stated platform, but doubt he's the political skills to bring it off.

Others find him to be a gadfly; another guy with a computer and too much time on his hands, wandering online from place to place commenting on all matter of issues susceptible to a quasi populist, mildly reactionary, conservative outlook.

Generally, Karlberg is considered part of the entertainment. Few don't look forward to the opportunity to watch him make these prigs at POB squirm for a few months. But it remains to be seen if, in the end, voters will take him seriously.

If his campaign runs the same course his mayoral attempt took, there's little chance he'll succeed unless, during the race, Smith dies laughing.

It will soon be seen if Karlberg is ready to settle down to the hard work of a campaign: appearing in public, pushing doorbells, raising money and really taking it to Smith.

Or will he take off to Alaska again and just throw bombs from the blogoshpere?

Whatever course he takes, good luck to him. It will be fun.

About g.h.kirsch

Citizen Journalist • Member since Jan 16, 2008

Comments by Readers

John Lesow

May 02, 2009

Greg,

Any burlesquing of Doug Karlberg’s candidacy could backfire on Doug Smith supporters. He sounds like a serious candidate to me. 

Voters are particularly supportive of three of his campaign planks;

—getting the Port out of the real estate business (the Port’s performance thus far has been underwhelming)

—elimination of most outside consultants (voters are fed up with the consultacracy and land use lawyers running the City, the County, and the Port)

—adding land to the tax rolls (rather than pouring money into a yacht basin with few economic benefits for ordinary taxpayers)

Karlberg’s additional campaign planks are thoughtful and practical.

Voters are tired of the same old bromides that blow in like a stale wind around election time, particularly from incumbents. I had no idea Doug Smith had been around the Port for 15 years. In Whatcom County, that’s Arlen Spector territory.  Time for a change.

Election of Karlberg and Hayes is an easy and practical way to change policy direction at the Port of Bellingham. After all, they’ll be the majority. At the end of the day, these men would have the votes to change policy quickly and decisively.

Hayes has Karlberg’s expressed support. One has to assume a mutual meld of perspectives.
Refreshing, particularly when you consider that most voters are tired of the perceived dysfunction between all levels of city and county government.

A Karlberg/Hayes coalition would blow some fresh breeze into the Port’s sagging sails.  I don’t know either man particularly well, but both project populist maturity and business savvy.

The jocularity of Karlberg is a plus; he would be an approachable and engaging Port Commissioner. And you gotta love that Santa Claus countenance.

Local politics does not have to be so deadly serious.  Nor so deadly boring, as is now the case.

John Lesow

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John Servais

May 03, 2009

The 2nd District will finally have a challenger.  And it will have a primary if MM files to run.  We will know in a week or two. 

Doug Smith had no challenger 4 years ago.  8 years ago Fenton Wilkenson ran a modest campaign.  12 years ago he had no challenger.  So this guy has not had to be very accountable to the voters during his 16 years on the Port - facing only one person in all those years. 

Karlberg has the gumption to really challenge Smith.  Lets hope he does.

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Tip Johnson

May 03, 2009

Un-elect incumbents.  Period. Get the innies out. That, according to Giovani Costegan, is the historical lesson of politics.  Once you’ve got the innies out, start over.

The potential damage to Bellingham and Whatcom County from the Port’s current policy trajectory are staggering. We cannot afford anyone - including City officials - who are not absolutely adamant about reevaluating a bubble-based plan after the bubble bursts.  That’s just stupid, and dangerous.

The Port has unique statutory capabilities to be a significant catalyst for repairing the County economy.  Continuing to squander that potential is unthinkable in this economic climate.

Ham Hayes and Doug Karlberg are the perfect pair to repair the Port. Both are very knowledgeable about Port issues generally and the operations of this Port specifically. Ham has an executive background while Karlberg knows about working folk, especially folks working at ports.  Both are entrepreneurial. Ham knows how to work within the system to fashion a better box. Doug knows how to think outside of it.

Together, they represent an important opportunity to have a definite, immediate impact on the disastrous course of the Port. Let’s do it.  Let’s repair our Port!

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John Watts

May 03, 2009

I’m glad both Ham and Doug threw their hats in the ring, which is an essential first step.
But, their ability to win is in considerable doubt.
Stronger candidates would help, but only if weaker ones don’t unnecessarily split the anti-incumbent vote.
Whether a primary is required is not nearly as important as actually electing new Commissioners.

I do agree that the key to a viable and representative democracy is to periodically vote the ‘innies’ out, and often!
15 - 18 years in office is way too long for anyone I know.

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John Servais

May 04, 2009

Tim Johnson nails it correctly again - for the second week in his Cascadia Weekly.  His Gristle “Road to Ruin” nicely traces the trashing of public process by Mayor Dan Pike and the Port of Bellingham.

In a separate article, “Eve of Destruction” he paints the picture as things exist at this time.  Through deception and back room deals, the historic buildings on the waterfront site will be destroyed.  Planning and efforts of many years are being deceptively ignored by the mayor and port commissioners. 

We really need two new port commissioners.

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John Servais

May 04, 2009

John Blethen is considering a run for Port Commissioner for District 1.  He may declare this week. He has served years on the WAG - Waterfront Advisory Committee - and is one of the most knowledgeable people when it comes to the waterfront. 

If he announces then we have a primary for District 1 with Ham Hayes and Scott Walker. 

While everyone assumes Doug Smith will run for reelection to the District 2 Port Commission position, he has not yet announced.

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