BREMERTON — Bremerton Port District voters had a choice between Axel Strakeljahn and his economic development track record over the last six years; and Robert C. Perkins’ new ideas, which included more industrial development on port property, creating training partnerships with local school districts, and changing the location and times of port meetings to make it easier for residents to attend.

Voters went with experience.

Strakeljahn was elected to a second term as District 3 commissioner of the Port of Bremerton Nov. 7. Early returns election night showed Strakeljahn with 6,405 votes to Perkins’ 5,905, the Kitsap County Auditor Elections Office reported.

“The top priorities for the port in my next term are to support and lead economic development in our region through increased marketing,” Strakeljahn said during the campaign. “We will add up to an additional 500 jobs while adding to our infrastructure [and] adding new buildings for businesses to fill. I will stay strong on fiscal accountability while increasing revenues to the port and the community.”

Strakeljahn has a degree in business administration and marketing, and manages the Fred Meyer store in Bremerton.

Perkins has a degree in business administration and is an operations engineer with more than 30 years of experience as a program manager for the Office of Naval Research.

Port commissioners are elected to six-year terms. Port commissioners each receive $12,000 a year, in addition to $11 per meeting, $150 per month toward health care, and port-paid dental and life insurance.

The port district owns and operates Bremerton National Airport, Olympic View Industrial Park, two marinas, a park, a pier, two boat ramps and a boat launch.

— Richard Walker is managing editor of Kitsap News Group. Contact him at rwalker@soundpublishing.com.