OLYMPIA — Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, has another honor to add to her growing collection after being given the inaugural Compass Award by the Washington Public Ports Association (WPPA).

Warnick and 19th District Sen. Dean Takko, D-Longview were given the Compass Award for supporting Washington’s ports during the past legislative session. Ports are the lifeblood for a number of areas across Washington, which boasts the largest locally-controlled port system in the world with 75 port districts, eight of which are in the 13th District, according to the WPPA.

“Senator Warnick’s strategic vision on keeping Washington state competitive for international trade is a huge asset, in the most trade-dependent state in the union,” WPPA Executive Director Eric Johnson said. “Her work on rural economic development ensures we’ll continue to grow our economy in a thoughtful and forward-looking way.”

Warnick described the bipartisanship efforts involved.

"He is on the other side of the aisle, but Senator Dean Takko and I have worked together on port issues in the past," Warnick told the Columbia Basin Herald.

"In Grant County there are several large and small ports and you can see in Moses Lake what they bring to a community."

Warnick says her understanding of how important a port can be to a community was formed as she sat on the state Community Economic Revitalization Board, which is approached by port district around the state regularly to obtain funding/grants for specific projects.

Locally, Warnick has been a supportive voice in the legislature over the years for the Northern Columbia Basin Railroad Project, which, when completed, will connect the Port of Moses Lake to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad hub in Wheeler. The project recently secured over $30 million to help bring the needed rail to the Port.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.