Ex-port commissioner announces candidacy

MOSES LAKE — Former Port of Moses Lake Commissioner Kent Jones announced Friday he plans to run for Port Commissioner Delone Krueger’s District 3 position.

Krueger said he decided not to run because a key employee passed away at his business, Columbia Basin Machine Company.

As a result, he found there’s not enough time to serve as a commissioner.

The decision to not run, “wasn’t an easy one,” but Krueger said he will endorse Jones as a candidate and support him for re-election.

Both men served together on the port commission for about 10 years, Krueger said. Krueger has served for more than 20 years.

He also spoke on Jones’ experience and knowledge being beneficial to the port.

Jones, 69, last served on the commission two years ago, but had to give up his seat because he moved out of his commissioner district.

Jones said he enjoyed his time on the commission.

“Being a port commissioner is kind of a moving target,” he commented. “There’s a lot of different issues that come up all the time. I enjoyed that. When I left, I missed it.”

Now living in District 3, Jones currently works in real estate sales at Advantage GMAC and coaches real estate agents over the Internet and by phone.

District 3 includes the Mae Valley and O’Sullivan Dam areas and land surrounding the City of Moses Lake, according to the Grant County Elections Department.

He served as a planning commissioner for the City of Moses Lake in the 1970s and as a Moses Lake city councilmember following his time on the planning commission.

Jones was also the state president of the Association of Realtors in 1987.