WSDOT appoints new head of ferries

The new director of the Washington State Ferries knows management principles and the maritime business, but also understands the political process, according to a Bainbridge Island member of the search committee.

Michael G. Thorne, formerly executive director of the Port of Portland, will take the helm at WSF Monday morning, filling a job that has been vacant for over a year.

“He is a wheat farmer, but a very urbane guy,” said Alice Tawresey, who met with Thorne twice as one of the eight-member search committee. “He has dirt on his shoes, but they’re wing-tip shoes.”

Tawresey said Thorne impressed her as “a very disciplined person,” who she thinks will be committed to improving ferry service.

“Riders feel that if they’re paying a lot more, there needs to be efforts to accommodate their needs,” said Tawresey, whose Tariff Policy Committee recommended a 20 percent fare increase last year and another 12.5 percent hike this year.

She cited automated ticket-taking as one of the areas of possible service improvements. She also said the WSF needs to do what it can to bring in more money from sources other than passengers to maintain or improve the perception of the WSF.

The factor that she said was decisive with Thorne, though, was his knowledge of the political process.

“Getting money these days is one of the most important things you have to do,” she said.

Originally from the Pendleton area in eastern Oregon and educated at Washington State University, Thorne spent 20 years in the Oregon state senate.

In 1991, he became executive director of the Port of Portland, which manages the seaport and industrial terminals, four industrial parks and four airports, including Portland International.

During his tenure, Portland became a leading West Coast auto import site, and air traffic grew substantially.

A conservative Democrat, Thorne resigned as port director in 2001 to explore the possibility of seeking an elected position, but chose not to make that effort.

Thorne will replace Paul Green, who resigned in November of 2000 to become chief of airports in Los Angeles. In the interim, long-time deputy director Terry McCarthy acted as WSF chief.

WSF spokesperson Susan Harris said she assumed McCarthy would resume his role as deputy director. Tawresey said the state may have other plans for McCarthy.

“I hear that the Secretary of Transportation may have plans for McCarthy in Olympia,” she said. “McCarthy has an absolutely brilliant mind, and is the ferry system’s institutional memory.”