TagConveyor(19)

This 2002 Washington State Public Disclosure Commission case involves Don Wasson, a Des Moines City Council member, who allegedly helped orchestrate and fund campaign activities — including advocacy phone calls and a political poll — to elect three candidates (Benjamin, Petersen, and Steenrod) to the Des Moines City Council in 2001. The elections were closely tied to a dispute over the WESCOT Company's proposed conveyor system to transport fill material for a planned third runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, which the existing Council had opposed. Wasson, who reportedly wanted to shift the Council's policies on airport expansion and become Mayor, faced charges of violating Washington's campaign finance reporting laws.

In 2005, Washington State's Public Disclosure Commission asked Attorney General Rob McKenna to sue a group of investors connected to TME Capital Group for allegedly hiding $60,000 in illegal campaign contributions used to influence 2001 Des Moines City Council elections. The investors were backing a business venture tied to the controversial third runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and sought to elect council candidates favorable to the project. The scheme involved funneling money through shell entities and converting it to anonymous cashier's checks to conceal the donors' identities, part of a broader pattern of campaign finance violations in Des Moines linked to the Sea-Tac runway fight.

This 2004 King County decision concerns a permit application by Glacier Northwest (Northwest Aggregates) to mine and export sand and gravel from Maury Island and replace an aging barge-loading dock on Puget Sound. The project proposed replacing 228 old creosote timber piles with 62–82 steel piles, extending the dock further into the water to protect nearby eelgrass beds, and enclosing the conveyor in a steel pipe to reduce spillage and noise. Note: this document relates to a Maury Island mining and shoreline development project and does not contain information about Sea-Tac Airport noise policy.

Des Moines City Councilman Don Wasson resigned in March 2003 amid a campaign finance scandal, after allegations that he concealed $49,000 in undisclosed contributions funded by businessman Hank Hopkins, who sought to build a conveyor system for SeaTac Airport's proposed third runway. The contributions were intended to elect council members more favorable to the runway project, and the state Public Disclosure Commission was investigating whether Wasson and Hopkins broke state law. Wasson's resignation left the six remaining council members deadlocked, raising uncertainty about city governance during a critical period for airport expansion policy.

A 2003 Seattle Times investigation revealed a campaign-finance scandal in Des Moines, WA, where Mayor Don Wasson, businessman Hank Hopkins, and political consultant Tom Hujar allegedly concealed $49,000 in unreported spending to influence the November 2001 City Council elections. The goal was to elect council members who would reduce the city's opposition to a proposed third runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. State Public Disclosure Commission investigators charged Wasson and Hopkins with violating campaign-finance disclosure laws, with all three men blaming each other for the scheme.

Meeting minutes from Citizens Against Sea-Tac Expansion discussing various airport-related issues including geese shooting near schools, conveyor belt project opposition, arsenic contamination concerns, and updates from local representatives on legislative matters and environmental issues. Karen Keiser. Dave Upthegrove. Brett Fish.

This circa-2002 community advocacy document from the Regional Commission on Airport Affairs opposes construction of a third runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, arguing that the Port of Seattle lacked required environmental permits, had already spent over $300 million, and that the project posed serious risks to local wetlands, fish habitat, and watersheds affecting 150,000 south county residents. The document also highlights a controversial proposal to transport arsenic-laden fill material via a conveyor belt through Des Moines Beach Park and Des Moines Creek to the airport construction site. Residents are urged to contact Port commissioners and local city council members to halt the project.