Former Tri-City leaders and soon-to-be ex-senator vie for Port of Kennewick vacancy
A state senator, two former mayors and a retired city manager hope to succeed Ken Hohenberg on the Port of Kennewick Board of Commissioners. Hohenberg retired in September, with about a year left of his six-year term. Hohenberg was elected to the commission in 2021, about the time he retired as Kennewick’s popular and long-time police chief and deputy city administrator. Eight applied to be appointed to the three-person commission. Four were interviewed in public on Wednesday. Commissioners Skip Novakovich and Raul Contreras Gonzalez will make the final selection at the board’s regular business meeting at 2 p.m., Tuesday, at the commission meeting room at the port’s Clover Island office. The candidates are Washington State Sen. Matt Boehnke, former Richland Mayor Rob Welch, former Kennewick Mayor Don Britain, and former Kennewick City Manager Marie Mosley. The District 1 seat is up for election in 2027. Port commissioners will see pay rise to $37,500 per year plus health, retirement and other benefits in 2027. Commissioners are also eligible to serve as paid ambassadors after they leave office. Matt Boehnke Washington State Sen. Matt Boehnke is a military veteran and cybersecurity instructor at Columbia Basin College. He served on the Kennewick City
