Three-term incumbent Westport Mayor Michael Bruce is running for an unprecedented fourth term. He faces two challengers, City Council member Rob Bearden and two-year Westport resident Jim Lang.
Because there are three candidates running, they will appear on the Aug. 4 Primary Election ballot. Ballots are expected to be mailed by County auditor’s offices no later than next Friday, July 17.
The top two vote-getters in the Primary will move on to the Nov. 3 General Election, when voters will make the final decision as to who will lead the City starting in January of next year.
In an effort to inform registered voters of the candidates’ backgrounds and aspirations if elected mayor, each candidate was asked to respond to the same set of questions.
The following are their responses:
Michael Bruce
How long a City resident?
I relocated from Concrete, Wash. to Westport to teach for the Ocosta School District in August, 2000.
Primary reason for running
I have strived to establish excellent working relationships with city, county, and state elected officials for the betterment of Westport and Grays Harbor County. As mayor, I have worked with the city council and staff to progressively move Westport forward by hiring quality employees, developing and updating city policies and encouraging well-planned development
The citizens of Westport need a leader that is educated, experienced and dedicated to promoting the fishing industry, employment opportunities, community safety, tourism and recreation. I would like to continue the progressive improvement of Westport.
Three other priorities
• Continued Progressive Community Development – I will push for more projects like those completed during my tenure thus far, which include but aren’t limited to a new city hall, police station and Senior Center purchase/remodel, a new library, rebuilt the Maritime gazebo, reconstructed Westhaven and Nyhus Streets/sidewalks, retrofitted Wastewater Treatment facility, new well exploration for industry, Port Observation Tower picnic area, GAR park concession stand, etc.
• Funding for parks enhancement - I encourage local marine industrial corporations to partner with the City through financial donations, adopting park areas, facilities or toys to refurbish or replace. Ocean Companies and the Rydman family have taken the lead by creating a soccer field to memorialize Dennis Rydman.
• Public Safety - The City Council and I are committed to continuous improvement in public safety. Our staff is highly trained in emergency response and safety management. You can expect enhanced Block Watch and Crime Watch programs, Reserve Police Officer training, marina walking and bike patrols, drug arrests and community education.
Civic/community experience
• Served a total of four years on the Concrete, Wash. Town Council
• Jan. 2012 to present - Elected Chairman of the GH Council of Governments (GHCOG) and a representative since 2004
• May 2012 – Completed more than 60 hours of training at Association of Washington Cities workshops to earn an Advanced Certificate of Municipal Leadership. The program provides knowledge and skills for elected municipal officials to effectively operate within the law, plan for the future, secure and manage funds and foster community and staff relationships.
• 2004-2015 - Completed nearly 50 FEMA Emergency Management courses on community safety and response
• Jan. 2015 – Elected Chairman of GH Transit Board of Directors
Employment/career history
• Served as mayor of Westport since January, 2004.
• Retired from teaching at the Ocosta School District June, 2009, where assignments included grades 9-12 Language Arts, Reading and Writing Remediation, Media Specialist, Virtual Classroom/Tech and Technology Coordinator
• 1997-2000 Concrete School District. Assignments included Technology Coordinator and Title/LAP Instructor
Personal Info
I am 61 and have been married to Missy for 26 years with two grown children.
A 1972 Sedro-Woolley High School graduate, I attended Skagit valley College from 1972-75, then earned my BA in Communications from WSU in 1979, an MA from WSU in Speech in 1981, and completed my Teacher Certification program in 1996 at WWU, as well as a Vocational Teacher Prep Program at CWU.
In 2009, I earned an MBA from the University of Phoenix in Human Resource Management, and an MPA in Public Administration from Strayer University.
Contact info
Michael Bruce
PO Box 1644
Westport, WA 98595
360- 268-6381
Rob Bearden
How long a City resident?
I was born and raised on the South Beach. I have traveled extensively for work, but I have always considered the South Beach my home base. My most recent residency inside city limits has been since 2010.
Primary reason for running
I love our city and am dedicated to staying here and continuing to help the city improve. Westport needs a leader that is dedicated to this city for the long term. I am raising a family here, and I want to make sure all of our children grow up in a town that they are proud of and that has plenty of youth activities to keep our children involved in a positive environment.
As mayor, I will focus on creating new facilities for our children and improving city parks and ball fields for our families and visitors.
Three other priorities
• Community Safety - I want to ensure Westport is a safe community for our families and visitors. I am committed to putting pressure on criminals to curb the criminal activity that has been occurring. I continue to support increased police manpower/patrols, Citizens Crime Watch patrol, Block Watch and increased communication with our citizens.
• Increased tourism - I want to promote events and activities all year around to increase visitors and revenue during the off-season. Along with the LTAC, I will continue to brainstorm and encourage new events and festivals that bring visitors to town. My goal is to have businesses stay open all year.
• Streets and sidewalks - I support further revitalization of streets and sidewalks to ensure they are safe and aesthetically pleasing. In addition to using budgeted funds to complete improvements, I plan to try and secure more grant funding for multiple projects and to work with other government agencies to secure additional resources.
Civic/community experience
• Elected to serve on the Westport City Council in January 2014.
• Jumped right in and became involved with multiple committees. I am currently on the Finance, Employment/Management and Tourism committees.
• Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) chairperson. The committee studies options for using the 5% excise taxes collected each year for tourism promotion and then makes recommendations to the City Council for specific expenditures approval.
• Participated in multiple City Council workshops and trainings
• Elected by fellow council members, I recently served as Mayor Pro Tem, taking over the duties of the mayor when he was absent or unable to complete his duties.
• A member of the Aberdeen Elks for the past eight years, and also a multiple-year member of our local Men’s Auxiliary to VFW) Post #3057.
• Volunteer at festivals for multiple years, including Crab Races and Feed and Seafood Festival, Run for the Light event and the new Best Friends Day held at the Maritime Museum
• Active with my son’s baseball team and have volunteered as an umpire on multiple occasions
Employment/career history
• As a teenager, worked at family’s restaurant, Bearden’s Pancake House, before becoming a boat captain with a 1600-ton Master’s license.
• For many years, owned and operated charter boats and commercial fishing vessels out of Westport.
• In charge of multi-million dollar operations running fishing boats in Hawaii and king crab catcher-processors in the Bering Sea, Russia, Norway and Argentina.
• Now staying closer to home full-time to raise my two young children, and currently captain of the Pilot Boat Chehalis that transports bar pilots out to and from the shipping traffic coming in and out of Grays Harbor.
Personal Info
I am married and raising two young children with my wife, Hillary, a local business owner and attorney. My mother’s family has lived on the South Beach for over 100 years. I graduated from Ocosta High School and was a member of the championship winning basketball team.
I have taken multiple college classes and trainings for my mariner’s license along with numerous safety and firefighting trainings. I have worked in a lot of places, such as Norway, Argentina, Russia, Alaska, Hawaii, and here in Grays Harbor. Westport is my favorite place to be. There is a great sense of community here if you are willing to become involved.
Contact info
Rob Bearden
PO Box 584
Westport, WA 98595
360- 581-0277
Jim Lang
How long a City resident?
I have lived in Westport for just over two years now. I moved here after my youngest passed while serving in the Army. This was the only place I felt that I could breathe.
Primary reason for running
I would like to see Westport grow in tourism and industry.
Three other priorities
• I would like to change the mayor’s role by making the mayor’s position also as city administrator.
• I would like to clean up our city’s RV campgrounds to make them safer for our citizens and tourism.
• I would like to expand city limits by annexing south to the school property.
Civic/community experience
• Administrator of Westport Block Watch
• Co-captain of Westport Crime Watch team
Employment/career history
• I work for Shermer Construction in Hoquiam, maintaining logging roads and replacing culvert pipe with fish passage pipe to enhance spawning.
• Prior to that, I spent a year with the John Karnas Construction Company.
• From the early 2000s to 2008, I was the project manager for a commercial development company.
• Prior to that, I worked as an operating engineer through locals 612, 302 and 12.
Personal Info
I am 55 and a graduate of Onalaska High School.
Contact info
Jim Lang
P.O. Box 221
Westport, WA 98595
360- 589-0401
