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NorthWest Citizen.us
Let's do the Public's business in public. To Contents of this section Port of Bellingham - Commissioner Ginny Benton / Jim Jorgensen debate on Oct 1, 2003 at Herald Election Forum So what happened to all the heat among contenders for this race? It was only a few short weeks ago, with four challengers hot on Ginny's heels, that this was shaping up to be a high-profile race. Jim emerged from that energizing primary as the chosen warrior to defeat the dragon-lady of the Port. Wednesday evening's debate between Benton and Jorgensen, however, had a scant 15 people or so in the audience, and the debate was surprisingly mild-mannered. Jorgensen made some valiant attempts to put the spotlight on some of Benton's shortcomings as a Commissioner, but with only limited effect. He questioned her on ethics, the perceived lack openness with the community, and the Port's response to the County in trying to locate extra jail space at the airport. His questions lacked enough specificity, and consequently Ginny was able to slide, Teflon-like, past most criticisms. The specific issue with which I am most familiar is the development for 10th and Douglas. This was originally proposed to be a four-story monolith that would have had profound and destructive effects on the views of the surrounding neighbors, views from public places, and access to the waterfront. This proposal went forward with Ginny's full consent, and only after several meetings with angry neighbors did she deign to consider alternatives. Yet at Wednesday evening's debate, she did everything she could to make it look like she had fully supported that change in plans all along. Nothing could be further from the truth. Jim failed to question her specifically, and to people unfamiliar with the issue, Ginny emerged as the voice of reason and compromise. The (few) in the audience who were familiar with some of Ginny's more nefarious acts were convinced that Jim had won the debate. They already knew the details that Jim was failing to provide, so they could fill in the blanks in their own minds. For the others, Ginny looked far more in charge of things, smooth, if somewhat smug. The dragon-lady is cunning and clever. If Jim, the dragon-slayer, hopes to defeat Ginny come November, he needs to sharpen his sword and be ready to use it when opportunities arise.
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