KIRKLAND, Wash., Jan. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Commissioner Creighton originally ran on balancing formerly competing interests of environmental stewardship and expanding cargo and passenger capacity at the seaport and airport. 

"I am proud that during my time as Commission President," Creighton stated, "the Port of Seattle began focusing on growing port operations in a more sustainable manner and set out our vision to be 'the cleanest, greenest, most energy efficient port in the nation.'" 

The early emphasis on greening the port while making it more competitive has paid off.  In 2010 and 2011, the Port of Seattle saw over two million TEUs a year come through its cargo terminals.  In 2011, a record 32.8 million passengers traveled through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.  

During the summer 2012 cruise season, the port had a record 933,900 passengers pass through its cruise terminals.  The economic activity created by the Port of Seattle impacts close to 194,000 jobs in our region.

Creighton also cites his efforts to improve transparency at the port—helping author and implement reforms to make activities from contracting to commission deliberations more accountable to taxpayers.  These efforts include working with colleagues to establish a Commission audit committee in his first year in office, and leading a vigorous reform initiative in response to a critical state audit report in 2008.

"We have worked hard to bring sunshine into the operations of the port," said Creighton.  "The reforms to date have helped restore public confidence, improved oversight and management, and allowed us to focus on the real work of building a stronger, greener port that will help drive our regional economy."

Over the last two years, Creighton has served as co-chair of the commission's Strategic Planning Committee, working closely with his fellow commissioners, port staff and regional stakeholders in developing a 25-year strategic plan to help grow 100,000 new port-related jobs for the Puget Sound region.  In December 2012, the full commission unanimously approved the port's 25-year strategic plan, also called the Century Agenda. 

During his time on the port commission, Creighton has championed transportation and economic development initiatives important to moving our region's economy forward.  He serves on the Washington State Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board (appointed by Governor Gregoire in 2006) and on the advisory board of the Seattle Convention and Visitors Bureau.  He is also chair of the State Route 509 Corridor Completion and Freight Improvement Project Executive Committee and a member of the Puget Sound Regional Council Transportation Policy Board. 

Growth in both freight and tourism play a large role in the port's 25-year plan, and finding new ways to fund tourism promotion is more important than ever.  Early last year, Creighton was named by his colleagues to be the lead commissioner in working with the local travel and hospitality industry to strategize how to increase tourism spending in Washington, a $16 billion a year industry to our state. 

"I would be honored to continue serving the citizens of King County on the Seattle Port Commission," said Commissioner Creighton. "I would like to help put in place the early initiatives required for the port to meet our Century Agenda 25-year goals."

About Commissioner John Creighton

John Creighton was elected to the Seattle Port Commission in 2005 and re-elected in 2009.  He served as Port Commission President from 2007-2008, and for the last two years as co-chair of the Commission's Century Agenda committee. The Century Agenda committee has led the development of the Port's 25-year plan to help grow 100,000 new port-related jobs for the Puget Sound region.

John Creighton is a business lawyer who practiced law in Washington, D.C., and overseas in Istanbul, Helsinki and Singapore with the law firm White & Case prior to returning home to the Seattle area in 2000. He grew up in the eastside suburbs of Seattle, where he attended Interlake High School.  For more information about Commissioner John Creighton, please visit www.johncreighton.org.

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