RYAN MELLO
"Dan Knox brings the kind of data-driven leadership we need to guide the Port of Tacoma through this critical era. He understands the balance between economic opportunity and environmental responsibility and he knows how to make government work for people." - Ryan Mello
PROUDLY ENDORSED BY
PIERCE COUNTY EXECUTIVE
NEW LEADERSHIP FOR A NEW ERA.
"I grew up in mill towns where pollution and broken promises were part of the landscape. At twelve, a mercury spill shut down the river near my school—and I saw firsthand what happens when public institutions fail working people.
We don’t all need to run for the flashiest office to make a difference. We just need to show up, bring our values, and be relentless in pursuit of a better future. I’m here to do exactly that—for our Port, our people, and our shared future in Pierce County.
I REFUSE TO TAKE FOSSIL FUEL OR CORPORTATE PAC DONATIONS.
I’m not a political insider—I’m an educator and advocate running for Port Commissioner because I believe the Port must be more than an economic engine. It must protect our air, support good jobs, and serve the public good with integrity and accountability."
I’m not a political insider—I’m an educator and advocate running for Port Commissioner because I believe the Port must be more than an economic engine. It must protect our air, support good jobs, and serve the public good with integrity and accountability."
WHOSE PORT? OUR PORT.
BUILDING CLEAN, CLIMATE RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE
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Electrify terminals and equipment to cut emissions and lead in green maritime logistics.
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Invest in stormwater and climate-ready infrastructure using GIS data, FEMA maps, and nature-based solutions.
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Leverage smart capital planning and federal funding to grow sustainably without sacrificing jobs or efficiency.
Electrify the port. Future-proof our terminals. Lead on climate.
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Electrify terminals and equipment to cut emissions and lead in green maritime logistics.
-
Invest in stormwater and climate-ready infrastructure using GIS data, FEMA maps, and nature-based solutions.
-
Leverage smart capital planning and federal funding to grow sustainably without sacrificing jobs or efficiency.
Electrify the port. Future-proof our terminals. Lead on climate.
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Require Project Labor Agreements on major Port projects to guarantee good wages, local hiring, and union standards.
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Expand access to union careers through pre-apprenticeships, priority hire programs, and support for women, BIPOC youth, and underserved communities.
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Protect workers in the face of automation by mandating labor impact reviews and creating retraining pathways—not job cuts.
CREATING UNION JOBS AND WORKFORCE EQUITY
Good jobs. Fair access. Strong labor protections.
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Require Project Labor Agreements on major Port projects to guarantee good wages, local hiring, and union standards.
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Expand access to union careers through pre-apprenticeships, priority hire programs, and support for women, BIPOC youth, and underserved communities.
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Protect workers in the face of automation by mandating labor impact reviews and creating retraining pathways—not job cuts.
Good jobs. Fair access. Strong labor protections.
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Honor the 2025 Port-Tribe partnership as a model for long-term co-governance, not a one-off deal.
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Establish a Joint Port-Tribal Advisory Council to shape land use, workforce, and environmental decisions.
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Codify tribal consultation in Port policy to ensure sovereignty, trust, and shared prosperity guide every step.
RESPECTING TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY AND PARTNERSHIP
Honor the land. Share the table. Build together.
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Honor the 2025 Port-Tribe partnership as a model for long-term co-governance, not a one-off deal.
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Establish a Joint Port-Tribal Advisory Council to shape land use, workforce, and environmental decisions.
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Codify tribal consultation in Port policy to ensure sovereignty, trust, and shared prosperity guide every step.
Honor the land. Share the table. Build together.
HERE'S WHAT I'M ASKING
I’m not running for Port Commissioner to punch a political ticket or settle into a retirement gig funded by big donors.
I’m running because my two-year-old nephew may not know what the Port does—but he feels the impact when diapers, formula, or medicine are delayed because our supply chains are brittle. Most people don’t think about the Port—but it shapes what we breathe, how we work, and where we live. It controls thousands of acres, millions in revenue, and decisions that ripple across housing, traffic, jobs, and clean air.
That kind of power should never operate behind closed doors. It belongs to the public. It demands transparency, accountability, and a voice for the communities too often left out of the room.
I’ve built my life through public service, mentorship, and persistence—not privilege. I’m an educator, a community advocate, and someone who knows what it means to push back when systems are built to ignore you. I still have to fight to be heard—and I’ll bring that same fight to the Port of Tacoma.
We don’t need more insiders protecting the status quo. We need leadership grounded in values and lived experience—not self-interest.
And while you're here, I’ll be honest: getting this message in front of voters takes real resources. Many people don’t yet know they have a choice in this race. But when they hear what we stand for, it resonates. Can you chip in today to help us reach them?
