Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee, who is seeking re-election, is constrained by law from speaking about the proposed oil terminal, which would be the nation’s largest and is slated for the Port of Vancouver. But his opponent, Republican Bill Bryant, a former Port of Seattle commissioner, is not held to the same rules.
When asked whether he would support the controversial oil terminal, Bryant said, he would consider three factors: “Safety … second is environmental protection and the third is local-community interest.”
OK, so it’s unclear whether the Republican gubernatorial candidate would approve the Tesoro-Savage project if he were elected.
Bryant did tell The Columbian Editorial Board on Friday afternoon that he believes if a project meets the state’s “strict environmental standards, it should be permitted,” however.
Whichever candidate is elected on Nov. 8, he could have the ultimate say over whether the project materializes.
And although Inslee has captured the moniker of the “green governor,” Bryant said he hopes to carve out a reputation as the education governor.
Bryant sees the state’s school funding crisis as an opportunity, he told The Columbian Editorial Board.
“I think of McCleary (the court decision mandating the Legislature to amply fund education) as an incredible opportunity for us,” Bryant said. “We should be able to step back and ask ourselves, what does a successful public school system look like in the 21st century?”
Bryant told the editorial board he didn’t believe Inslee had a plan to tackle school funding. He also criticized the incumbent for the early releases of prisoners at the state’s Department of Corrections and problems at the Western State Hospital.
Bryant accused Inslee of turning transportation issues into a partisan issue — and of a lack of leadership that resulted in the Columbia River Crossing project failing.
Bryant grew up in Morton and studied trade and diplomacy at Georgetown University. Later, he started a company that helps farmers export their crops, called BCI.
Washington voters last elected a Republican governor, John Spellman, in 1980.
Inslee is scheduled to visit with The Columbian Editorial Board on Monday.
Lauren Dake: 360-735-4534; twitter.com/LaurenDake; lauren.dake@columbian.com
