Ocean Shores had several seats at the forum recently when more than a dozen state representatives, including Speaker of the House Frank Chopp, came to the Aberdeen Rotary Log Pavilion for the first stop on a listening tour.

“It was great to see so many local leaders in the same room with lawmakers from around the state,” said Rep. Mike Chapman, whose 24th District includes the north and eastern section of Grays Harbor, including the North Beach and Ocean Shores. Chapman helped organize the event on Sept. 6 and served as host in between speakers. “We had a great discussion about jobs, education, health care and ideas on making this an even better place to work and raise a family.”

One Ocean Shores local leader, however, thought a critical job-generating subject locally did not receive enough attention — tourism.

“I personally was a little bit disappointed. It was not what I thought it was going to be,” Ocean Shores City Councilman Jon Martin said. “I thought there would be more give and take.”

Martin said the discussion was dominated by issues that had greater impact on Aberdeen and other Harbor institutions.

“One of my biggest disappointments was that there was no discussion on tourism at all,” Martin said. “In my mind it just show that there is a lot of work we need to do as a city to bring it to attention.”

Ocean Shores Mayor Crystal Dingler agreed with Martin’s assessment on tourism, saying the event was more about “brick and mortar” business and industry. But she also noted the value in networking on issues such as wetlands mitigation. “All of those connections that we make are really great and really make a difference,” she said.

Speakers included Dru Garson from Greater Grays Harbor, Aberdeen Mayor Erik Larson, Lisa Perry of Sierra Pacific, Hoquiam City Administrator Brian Shay, Grays Harbor College President Jim Minkler, Hoquiam School Superintendent Mike Villerreal, Michael Corman from Westport Seafood, Larry Kahl from Grays Harbor Community Hospital, Lisa Perry of Sierra Pacific and Alissa Shay from the Port of Grays Harbor, which helped host the event and a tour of the port’s operations.

Rep. Steve Tharinger (D-24th District) said Grays Harbor’s Lynn Kessler, former House Majority Leader, came up with the One Washington theme that still guides House lawmakers.

“Right now, the Harbor and other parts of rural Washington have the opposite problem of the Seattle area,” Tharinger said. “There, traffic on I-5 is getting worse and housing prices are sky-high because the economy is white-hot, maybe too hot. People like living here because we don’t have traffic jams and housing is still affordable, but our economy needs a boost. That’s what One Washington is about—making sure everybody, from Aberdeen to Walla Walla, shares in the prosperity and opportunity of our state.”

Tharinger is chair of the Capital Budget Committee, which writes the state’s construction budget. Other speakers noted the importance of health care, mental health and childcare, with Grays Harbor and other rural areas struggling with a shortage of doctors, mental health care and childcare slots. After two hours of presentations and a lunch session with questions and answers, lawmakers and local leaders went on a tour of the Port of Grays Harbor.

Speaker Frank Chopp (D-43rd District) said he appreciated all the local leaders and elected officials taking the time to talk to lawmakers, and noted that this was only the first stop in an effort to boost development in timber and farm country. “This is about opportunity for all,” Chopp said.

Ocean Shores Councilwoman Holly Plackett said having the city-based legislators like Chopp visit the area and hear “about rural needs was a very helpful thing.”

“I thought it was a pretty good meeting,” Plackett said.