MOSES LAKE — Candidate Brian McGowan is running for election to Port of Moses Lake commissioner position 2 because he wants to be the voice of citizens.

“I feel the people of Moses Lake deserve a voice in what happens out at the Port of Moses Lake,” he explained. “All too often, the voters get forgotten after the candidates get elected. Working for the public will always be my first objective.”

McGowan stated his teamwork and leadership experience will help him meet the needs of the position.

“With these values I feel I can bring everyone together and work as a whole, not individually, making the port district a successful entity of Moses Lake.

His goals with the position include creating more jobs in Moses Lake by bringing new businesses to the area. He wants to make the port more accessible to people and keep air service in Moses Lake.

McGowan explained a challenge facing the position.

“I think one challenge would be bringing other port officials and workers aboard with new ideas,” he stated. “Change is always a good thing, you need change to grow. Without change, things become stagnate.”

He stated citizens should vote for him because he wants to be their spokesperson.

“I want what they want,” McGowan explained. “All too often, the people are forgotten. With me in office, their voices will be heard loud and clear.”

He explained how the port can attract business.

“One way I feel we can attract business is showing potential companies all the commodities we can offer like the airline and now with the rail expansion in the works,” McGowan stated. “I think we have good potential with businesses becoming more attracted to Moses Lake and the port.”

He explained how the port can obtain funding for the rail expansion.

“We can obtain money from both the state and federal levels by showing those elected officials in both Olympia and Washington, D.C., that this expansion will help not only Moses Lake and the state but the entire U.S. coast to coast,” McGowan stated. “Obtaining funding from the stimulus package and money from Olympia are two ways we can achieve the funding needed for this project.”

He explained how the port can assist the air service.

“The port can assist the air service by attracting more businesses to the area allowing them to fly right in to Moses Lake instead of driving,” he stated. “This in turn, will allow them to arrive earlier for meetings and depart with enough time to be home with their families.”

The biggest asset of the Grant County International Airport is itself, he stated. It is close to Interstate 90, the rail project and has potential to continue growing, he explained.

The next project for the port should involve the air service, McGowan stated.

More flights should be established to more destinations, he stated.

“We also really need to sell the port for those prospective businesses that want to make their home here in Moses Lake,” McGowan stated.