By Lindsay Peyton

Peter Steinbrueck thought his political career had come to a close – after serving on Seattle City Council from 1997 to 2007. 

During that period, he was named council president and chaired the Housing and Human Services, Parks, Education, and Libraries and Urban Development and Planning Committees. 

In 2013, he ran for Mayor and came in third in the primary. 

“At the point, I felt like I was finished with politics,” he said. 

But then, he decided to throw his hat in for the Port of Seattle position last spring. 

“I don’t jump into these things lightly,” he said. “Campaigns require enormous amounts of time and energy. It’s an invigorating experience, but it takes a tremendous amount of commitment.”

Steinbrueck said the reason he decided to run was his long-time interest in the Port. 

“The Port is so important to our region and job creation,” he said. “I have always been interested in making a positive impact on my community. This sounded worth diving into.”

Steinbrueck’s desire to work for the greater good started at an early age. 

“One of my earliest experiences was helping my father with Friends of Pike Place Market,” he said. “That’s when my activism began, collecting signatures at City Hall. I learned you can fight – and win. Ever since then, I’ve had a role in some cause or other.” 

The Washington Environmental Council and Seattle Public Library Foundation are a two of his favorite worthy causes. 

Steinbrueck sees the Port as another place where he can make a positive impact. 

“It’s an opportunity to bring all my experience and passion together to sail the ship,” he said. 

Steinbrueck earned a master’s degree in architecture from University of Washington and his bachelor’s degree in government from Bowdoin College.

He believes his education, combined with his experience drafting public policy and working in city council, would serve him well at the Port. 

Steinbrueck said being a Loeb Fellow at Harvard University was a formative experience. 

“They give 10 people a year to study how to make a difference in the environment,” he said. “It was a wonderful experience. My focus was on the building blocks for urban sustainability.” 

An architect by training and an “environmentalist at heart,” Steinbrueck said he is especially interested in how antiquated infrastructure can be redesigned to encourage sustainability. 

He would want to apply that concept to improve environmental impacts at the airport. 

“The biggest challenge now is the growth of Sea-Tac Airport,” he said. “I’m increasingly aware of these problems that have been under-addressed for years and are becoming increasingly important.”

He is concerned about health impacts and noise pollution from the airport as well. Creating a curfew requiring planes to no longer fly at certain hours of the night could provide relief to area residents, he said. 

In the long-term, he believes buidling a second regional airport is inevitable. 

“SeaTac does not have the capacity for 20 million more passengers,” he said. “It’s unthinkable that it could happen in any sustainable way.”

Steinbrueck said airport growth will also result in more traffic in the area, which also will increase pollution. He said creating better and more efficient public transportation options at the airport will be one of his top priorities if elected.  

He also would support programs to allow the Port to remain an important economic driver in the region. 

Steinbrueck said the Port’s shipping facilities and iconic Pacific fishing fleet at Fisherman’s Terminal provide more than 70,000 stable living-wage jobs. In addition, cruise ships employ more than 3,700 people locally. 

Steinbrueck wants to help the Port reach into underserved communities and provide more job training and employment opportunities.

Steinbrueck also believes that making the Port more transparent and connected to area residents is essential. 

“I want to engage the Port more in the community, open it up,” he said. 

Steinbrueck is endorsed by King County Democrats, as well as the 31st, 32nd, 41st, 45th Democrats and Metropolitan Democratic Club.

Steinbrueck’s former opponent Ken Rogers, who ran against him in the primary election, also has his vote. 

“It’s clear that Peter is the best fit,” Rogers said. “Peter has the experience. He knows how to work with an organization that provides governance on a large scale.”

For more information about the election, visit www.kingcounty.gov.