Kitzhaber's port appointee wins confirmation 3

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--> --> Kitzhaber's port appointee wins confirmation By Brad Cain Associated Press Writer SALEM - Despite earlier questioning of the appointment by some lawmakers, Gov. John Kitzhaber's selection of an Astoria fisheries advocate to the Port of Portland Commission sailed to approval Thursday in the Oregon Senate. The Senate voted 27-2 to confirm Bob Eaton with no one speaking against the appointment during a relatively brief floor debate. In earlier hearings, some senators questioned whether Eaton would have an open mind about the proposed deepening of the Columbia River to accommodate larger ships and whether he had enough business experience to help manage Oregon's busiest port. Eaton is head of a nonprofit organization that promotes the groundfishing industry and also is a member of the Port of Astoria Commission. Earlier this week, Eaton announced that to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest, he would resign from the Astoria commission if the Senate confirmed his appointment to the Port of Portland Commission. That move, along with assurances by Eaton and Kitzhaber that they both want to see the channel deepening project move forward, apparently cleared the way for the Senate to give overwhelming approval to the appointment. Eaton's appointment appeared to hit a snag last week when the Senate Rules Committee obtained a videotape of a December 1999 public meeting in which Eaton appeared to oppose the channel deepening on environmental and economic grounds. Sen. Steve Harper, who had expressed doubts about Eaton, voted "yes" on the appointment Thursday. Harper said he'd been given assurances Eaton wouldn't stand in the way of the project to allow larger ships to traverse the Columbia with wheat and other Pacific Northwest products. "I'm comfortable after lots of discussion that that won't be a problem," the Klamath Falls Republican said. "He promised me that the Portland of Portland will remain viable." Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing