SEAMEC has endorsed Rob Holland, an openly Gay African American man, for Port Commission Position 3.

Holland was interviewed by SEAMEC on July 25. After interviewing all his competitors for Position 3, and reviewing his record, SEAMEC concluded that Holland merits one of its rare endorsements.

SEAMEC endorses candidates only "in recognition of a clear choice of importance to the LGBT community, or in recognition of a distinguished history of activism on behalf of the LGBT community."

Holland was questioned by SEAMEC's volunteer interview panelists on a range of LGBT issues grouped into the general categories of Equality, Relationships, Age and Gender, Health and Safety, and Awareness. All candidates are asked the same series of questions.

SEAMEC's panelists graded Holland as follows: B in the category of Equality; A in Relationships; A in Age and Gender; B in Health and Safety; A in Awareness.

After candidates are interviewed, SEAMEC's Steering Committee assigns a numerical rating based on all available information about the candidate, including the candidate's public record, and information gleaned from community members who may have worked with the candidate.

Holland received a rating of 4, indicating he "exceeds expectations."

SEAMEC is continuing to interview primary election candidates, and will release all its ratings next week.

In addition to SEAMEC's endorsement, Holland has also been endorsed by Senator Joe McDermott, Representative Jamie Pedersen, Representative Dave Upthegrove, and City Council members Sally Clark and Tom Rasmussen, among others.

Holland's "Green Jobs Plan" has earned him endorsements from the Martin Luther King County Labor Council and the Building Trades Council of construction unions, as well as from the Sierra Club and King County Conservation Voters.

Courtesy of SEAMEC

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