Longtime Port of Kennewick commissioner won’t seek third term in 2025

Thomas Moak will not seek a third six-year term on the Port of Kennewick commission, where he has represented east Kennewick and Finley since 2014.

He will step down at the end of 2025, when his current term expires.

Moak said he announced his decision early so would-be candidates would have time to consider the commitment. Filing week is May 5-9 for the 2025 election season, which includes a primary in August and general election in November.

His successor will take office in January 2026.

“We need good people in all of our elected offices,” Moak, 71, told the Tri-City Herald.

The port is a public agency that’s governed by a three-person elected commission. Elected leaders set policy, oversee the executive director and approve the budget, currently about $15.5 million.

The Kennewick port’s primary mission is to encourage economic development and job creation through real estate development and infrastructure investment. It employs about 20, with Tim Arntzen, executive director, running day-to-day operations.

Moak cited his 25 years in elected office, including one in the state House of Representatives and 12 on the Kennewick City Council, for his decision. He said he didn’t want to overstay his welcome and noted he would have been 78 at the end of a third term.

“I reflect back on last year when then-Senator Mitt Romney (R-Utah) announced he would not seek another term in the Senate, saying, ‘Frankly it’s time for a new generation of leaders.’ I feel that way today,” he said.

Moak worked as a librarian for 41 years before he retired from the Mid-Columbia Libraries as a branch manager in 2021.

His career in public office began in January 1994, when he was appointed to fill a vacancy in the state House. He ran for election that November, but lost to Jerome Delvin, now a Benton County commissioner.

Moak was elected to the Kennewick City Council in 1997, serving three terms, including one as mayor. He was defeated in 2009 when by John Hubbard.

Moak blamed his support for shutting down the municipal airfield at Vista Field for his election loss.

While serving in city leadership, he led efforts to convince the Port of Kennewick’s leaders at the time to close the airfield and put its 103 acres to better use. Unlike airports in Pasco, Richland and even Prosser, the Kennewick one wasn’t eligible for Federal Aviation Administration dollars.

It cost him his city council seat, but he relishes the irony that he found success running for port commissioner in 2013.

He took office on the first day of 2014, exactly one day after giant “X”s were painted on the Vista Field runway and it closed to airplanes forever.

“I believe in time, Vista Field redevelopment will prove to be on of the greatest developments in the Tri-Cities,” he said.

On his watch, the port created a mixed-use vision for Vista Field that blends residential, commercial, recreational and other uses in a walkable neighborhood crisscrossed by a water feature.

It set the stage for private developers to fill in the blank when it built streets, utilities and other infrastructure. After several years of marketing sites, it began cutting deals, with a bridal shop, a Japanese restaurant, an eye clinic and even housing developers.

In November, Kuki Izakaya Japanese Restaurant broke ground, becoming Vista Field’s official first tenant. The other projects are pending.

Moak said he’s relieved to see Vista Field begin taking shape after so many years of planning and effort.

As he embarks on his last year in office, he said he encourages the port to identify its next big undertaking now that Vista Field and a companion project, Columbia Gardens Urban Wine & Artisan Village near the cable bridge, are coming to fruition.

“I am grateful to the citizens of the city of Kennewick and the port of Kennewick for electing me to high office five times. I have worked hard on their behalf, but now it’s time for others to pick up the torch.”

The Port of Kennewick is governed by a three-member commission elected from individual districts on a staggered schedule.

Moak represents Port of Kennewick District 2, which is bordered by the Columbia River on one side and Interstate 82 on another.

District 1 is represented by Ken Hohenberg and covers the much of the city of Kennewick. District 3, represented by Skip Novakovich, extends to West Richland, taking in parts of south Richland.

Go to the Benton County Auditor’s site for information about filing for public office. Candidates may file for office online. Go to voter.votewa.gov.