Former Othello farmer running for port commissioner

OTHELLO — A longtime Othello resident has been thinking about running to be a Port of Othello commissioner for the last 10 to 12 years.

Terry Thompson faces incumbent Richard Garza for Port of Othello Commissioner District No. 1 in the November election.

"I just feel I would be an asset for growth," Thompson said. "I'm big on growth."

He was a potato farmer for more than 30 years, handling about 500 acres of potatoes and now sells real estate, specializing in listing and selling farms in the Othello, Basin City, Warden and Moses Lake areas.

Thompson served one term on the Othello City Council and has served on the Adams County Fair board for 22 years, as well as a number of other board, including the state's fair board association, and the Boy Scouts of America for 19 years.

"I just feel I'm pretty rounded in all the different boards I've been on," he said. "I've enjoyed being on the other boards I've been on, but some of them have been kind of controversial. I feel the port basically is all positive, because everybody wins with growth."

If elected, Thompson said he would drop off some of the other boards in order to devote time to the port district.

Thompson said he does not know his opponent, but believes either of them would serve the port well.

He supports new port manager Michael Beardsley "wholly" on growth which is an asset to the Othello community, he noted.

Thompson said he intends to support growth by bringing in more businesses and offering support with land, water and any other way to help them.

Thompson said he sees the port district is looking at growth in two to three different areas.

In the Othello area, Thompson sees lack of domestic water out to the Othello Golf Course as a critical need.

"I think somehow we need to figure out a way to supply more water to that area of the community so we can have more growth in that area there," he said.