FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington Public Ports Association Recognizes Representative Jake Fey with 2026 Compass Award
OLYMPIA, Washington – On Tuesday, September 1st, The Washington Public Ports Association (WPPA) recognized Representative Jake Fey (D-27th) with their 2026 Compass Award. The award was presented to Representative Fey at a meeting of The Northwest Seaport Alliance in Tacoma, WA.
Since 2018, WPPA has recognized legislators who provide extraordinary leadership and unparalleled vision in advancing the work of public ports and supporting shared priorities of providing economic opportunity for their shared constituents. WPPA works on behalf of public ports across Washington, representing the interests of ports at the state legislature and beyond. The Association relies on the leadership, vision, and partnership of our legislative champions to promote the success of Washington’s ports. Compass Award winners demonstrate pragmatism and a bipartisan approach to policymaking. Representative Jake Fey embodies this collaborative and creative method, and his style aligns with the values our ports take to their work every day.
Representative Fey was elected to the Legislature in 2012, coming to Olympia after a long career in public service which included time on the Tacoma City Council and as the city’s Deputy Mayor. From 2001 to 2019, he was the Director of Washington State University’s Energy Program. Upon his election to represent the 27th District in the Legislature, Representative Fey quickly rose to a leadership position on the House Transportation Committee. He has served as the Chair of that Committee since 2019, and in 2022 he helped steward the passage of the Move Ahead Washington transportation package.
Given that his district is home to the Port of Tacoma and the container terminals operated by The Northwest Seaport Alliance – not to mention the fact that the port is visible from his home – Chair Fey has been a longtime champion of ports and the economic development opportunities they create in his community and around Washington. During the 2026 Legislative Session, Chair Fey worked with WPPA, ports on the Columbia River, and advocates ranging from the Washington Association of Wheat Growers to the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, to include robust funding for Columbia River channel maintenance in his supplemental transportation budget.
“Washington state has a supply chain asset in Chair Fey: he has strong interest in, and understanding of, the role of port districts in our state. He brings a firm commitment to his district to his work chairing the Transportation Committee, and we are lucky that includes an enduring belief in the work of our public ports and in his Port of Tacoma. He has long been a friend to our ports and workers along the waterfront, and is truly deserving of this award,” remarked WPPA Executive Director Eric ffitch.
Chair Fey added: “My view of the Tacoma tidelands includes the port’s container cranes and longshoremen along the working waterfront, and throughout my time in public service I’ve engaged with ports in their mission to create jobs and opportunity for the people I represent. Investing in the Columbia River gateway will keep our state competitive and keep goods moving, from Washington to export destinations around the globe. And an investment in one working waterfront is an investment in the state as a whole.”
Each year, WPPA recognizes a Democratic legislator and a Republican legislator with a Compass Award. In 2026, they made two awards on each side of the aisle. The other 2026 Compass Award winners are: Senator Marko Liias (D-21st LD); Senator Shelly Short (R-7th LD); and Rep. Hunter Abell (R-7th LD). Press releases for each of those awards can be found here.
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Contact: Eric ffitch, Executive Director
360-763-1179 cell
[email protected]
