Timur,

Thanks for taking your time to come on my blog and answer my questions. Why did you choose to run for harbor commissioner?

Timur,

Are you accepting donations from labor unions or businesses with interests before the commission? If so, how can you assure people that those donations aren't buying access or influence?

As a native of Oxnard I enjoy giving back to the community. I currently serve on the Board of the United Way and chair their young leaders society. 5 years ago, when I was asked to help grow the organization we had 5 people. In 2010 in one week we involved 400 young people though our Youth Empowerment Summit and Beach Cleanup.

The port is something that affects our daily lives and most people do not know what it does. I think with my business experience, my community service, and my international experience, and my ideas, I can help to increase activity at our port and then enrich our lives in Ventura County. I can use my experience in the security field to make our port safer. Also, I can use my relationships from the Boards on which I currently serve, as well as my lifelong friendships to create and build new opportunities for the port and my friends and neighbors.

I feel that becoming a harbor commissioner is a next step in my contributing to my community which has given me a great deal of opportunity.

I am happy to accept donations from anyone who believes in my priorities. They are simple. I want to increase port activity, enhancing existing jobs and creating new jobs. I want to make sure our port is safe. Finally, I want to do these things in a way that does not damage our natural resources in our community.

As a candidate I make myself available to visit anyone’s business, community meeting, or other gathering. I will not discriminate because of a paradigm or someone’s affiliation in the community. As a Commissioner, likewise, my office will be open to hear anyone’s issue or thoughts about how to improve our port. Something that I believe is that a healthy busy port makes for a stronger community.

As I mentioned in the CPA Technology Advisor that you posted earlier, I believe communication is important, and that it is the future of commerce. As a commissioner I commit to listening to everyone’s viewpoints and ideas and making decisions to better our community.

Timur,

I think it is great you are willing to go to a variety of meetings to spread your message. Does that include the upcoming Labor Day picnic the Democratic Party is holding or a Tea party event?

Have you already accepted donations from any labor unions or businesses with an interest before the commission?

Brian,
As you know, this is a non-partisan position. The political affiliations of myself or my supporters in not relevant to the race. This non-partisan position is significant as the port is designed to enhance and facilitate trade and not make political statements. Again, a healthier port means more jobs and security for our friends and neighbors. I believe the best way to have a successful port, or a successful business, is to remain non-partisan.

To date, I have not had an invitation extended by either the Democratic Party, or organizers of a Tea Party event, nor have I been offered any donations by labor unions or businesses with an interest before the commission.

Timur,

How would you rate the job the current commission has been doing?

Economic expansion at the ports would bring many benefits to local people including jobs and an increased tax base. But how can negative impacts like increased traffic be mitigated?

Economic expansion at the ports would bring many benefits to local people including jobs and an increased tax base. But how can negative impacts like increased traffic be mitigated?

Brian,
I think we would be remiss to not recognize the significant accomplishments of our existing Harbor Commission and their staff. They have built a port that in its peak is number one in car imports topping nearly 300,000 cars, a top importer of bananas, carrying over $7 billion in cargo value that generates over $650 million for Ventura County’s economy (per www.portofhueneme.org). They have implemented an excellent security program, manage a foreign trade zone, and are on track to be one of the first ports to be totally electric, reducing (or eliminating) the emissions from ships while docked in our port. Our port, its staff and leadership do a great job.

With that said, the economic forces from outside Ventura County are changing our daily lives. The port must respond with new ideas and new ways to help improve our community. I believe that my leadership and personal experiences make me a uniquely qualified candidate to build on what the port is already doing, using its assets, and our community assets, to build opportunity for our friends, neighbors, and businesses.

Brian,
Thanks for asking the traffic question. One of my goals is to explore using our Venutra County Rail service to help move cargo from the port to our established industrial areas or beyond. Doing this could create additional jobs in our area, it could reduce traffic, getting trucks off Hueneme and surrounding roads.

The port has also just been selected to participate in the America’s Marine Highways program.
http://www.marad.dot.gov/ships_shipping_landing_page/mhi_home/mhi_home.htm
This program is designed to use smaller barges to move cargo from place to place decreasing the dependency on our highways, reducing traffic.

Being selected for this program shows that our port is leading the way in reducing traffic, and I believe that our future as a society relies on reducing traffic and moving people and cargo much more efficiently.

My campaign is already reaching out to other organizations and asking questions about how to use rail intelligently and efficiently. Again, new ideas, using our community assets.

Brian,
Thanks for asking the traffic question. One of my goals is to explore using our Venutra County Rail service to help move cargo from the port to our established industrial areas or beyond. Doing this could create additional jobs in our area, it could reduce traffic, getting trucks off Hueneme and surrounding roads.

The port has also just been selected to participate in the America’s Marine Highways program.
http://www.marad.dot.gov/ships_shipping_landing_page/mhi_home/mhi_home.htm
This program is designed to use smaller barges to move cargo from place to place decreasing the dependency on our highways, reducing traffic.

Being selected for this program shows that our port is leading the way in reducing traffic, and I believe that our future as a society relies on reducing traffic and moving people and cargo much more efficiently.

My campaign is already reaching out to other organizations and asking questions about how to use rail intelligently and efficiently. Again, new ideas, using our community assets.

Timur,

I haven't attended or read the minutes of harbor commission meetings but my understanding is that the commission doesn't overrule staff recommendations. Can you think of any example of where you would differ from the staff in recent policy decisions?

Timur,

You are running for a harbor commissioner position. I have to ask. Do you own a boat or other watercraft?

Brian,
As I mentioned earlier, I feel the port's staff and the current commissioners have done a great job stewarding our port for quite some time.

I am sure that the existing commissioners have access to more information than do we so it is hard to know what questions had been asked by the commissioners before the meeting or what prior direction the commission had given the staff.

Under my leadership that direction will be tweaked, I will want to see the port become more centric on our community and finding better ways to service our community that does business overseas. We have too many local businesses that are trucking or railing their cargo to Long Beach. While our port cannot handle everyone’s business using our foreign trade zone status and our existing infrastructure we can do a lot for our local businesses.

In my experience on the Board of the CBC Federal Credit Union and the United Way of Ventura County, I have learned that an amicable relationship between the Board and the staff is much more valuable then an adversarial one. If the Board and staff are adversaries, it is time for the Board to find a new Executive Director. Likewise it is the Executive Director and his or her staff’s responsibility to execute the direction and desires of the Board because they reflect the views and desires of the community. As a leader and Commissioner, as I mentioned earlier, my door will always be open to hear ideas to improve our port and our community, and I will not hesitate to vote against and make my voice heard when I feel we are diverging from my priorities of commence, safety, and environmental consciousness.

Brian,
I have been told it is better to have a friend with a boat than own one yourself. I do not personally own a boat, but I do find myself out sailing every month or so. But, depending on how liberal your definition of watercraft, I do have two surfboards in my garage and a couple boogie boards!

When I attended USC for my Electrical Engineering degree, though, one of the electives I choose was a class on sailing. In that class we learned about maritime law, marine right of way, and general boating best practices. Boating here in Ventura County, I have come to know our harbor patrol who truly serve and protect our boaters. Growing up in the community I also have friends who own boats and are often gracious enough to allow me on their boat. I enjoy the water and it is one of the best parts of our community.

Timur,

Thanks for taking your time coming on my blog. I appreciate you rescheduling this interview. Keep us up to date on your campaign.

Timur,

Thanks for taking your time coming on my blog. I appreciate you rescheduling this interview. Keep us up to date on your campaign.

Brian,
I want to thank you for inviting me to participate in your Thursday Night Live (On a Monday Night). I enjoyed your questions and hope my answers helped your readers. If there is anything I can provide to you or your readers, please do not hesitate to contact me through my website, TimurTaluyHarborCommissioner.com.

This is a great service, and I look forward to participating again soon.

-Timur Taluy