Oh I am mad!!! Every year we're getting taxed on this, taxed on that, increase tax for this and that. And now after viewing learning that Port of Seattle is mis-using our tax money in this unethical practice of squandering our tax money. Davis should be fired. All of the commissioners should be investigated for other possible unethical practices.

In my view any public servant should not receive a severance package. They chose this job to help the community, they are paid well. If they want the big bucks, they have a choice to go private. If Mrs.Davis indeed did this on her own, she should be reprimanded. Sometimes people in these positions think they are a little bigger than life.

Thank you Gary Willcoxon

I think that the severance package was talked about and approved. Then it came out in public and people started asking questions about why he got so much, and other former employees got less or nothing for the same reason. So now they are saying we dont rember saying that and leaving Ms Davis holding the bag. The Port of Seattle seems to have a double standard on the way do business. Frist it was sexual harsment now the way they pay there top administrators.

I've cringed for years over the port commission being able to add taxes to the King county property owners without them voting on same. And now a secret deal between its outgoing head and a commissioner is made public. Notice: it has been cancelled shortly after being made public. This commission has been out of control for year and needs to be reigned in. All secret sessions should be abolished. Neither should they be allowed to set their own tax supported salaries. Calling their head a CEO doesn't make him one. He and the whole port are still suppported by taxes paid by property owners.

The Port has for years tried to dispel, ignore or dispute any allegations by anyone that they have done anything wrong. Their powerful PR team and their ability to create confusion usually wins out. This time however, it looks really bad for Pat Davis. I don't know how she is going to squirm out of what appears to be collusion and conspsiracy to misuse government funds and her position for another's personal gain.

I feel sorry for the people of Seattle they are always paying with their taxes so dodo's servence pay when they decided to leave office. They don't do this for the regular workers. Just the butt kissers and the ones that think they are important. It is time for taxpayers all over this state to stop this kind of pay offs? They even do it in Washington, DC

I watched this story on May 22, 2007 during the 5:30 portion of Evening News. While being upset about the apparent one person decision to pay 40 weeks of "transition" pay; I was most concerned with the email from the new Port CEO advising the Commissioner to "not air our dirty laundry in public".

The Port of Seattle is a public agency and as such has an obligation to conduct its business in public. While there are exceptions to this rule, to protect the privacy to individuals, it does not extend to differences between the elected officials who are there to conduct "our" business, with "our" money. The new CEO should be educated about openess in public business and his error acknowledged publicly.

I guess I don't understand. As an agency I would think that all financial matters would have to be discussed at meetings and all meetings are required to have minutes taken. If a review of all minutes does not show this item brought up then it wasn't and if it wasn't it is now time for the City of Seattle, King County, the State of Washington and US Attorney to investigate. Also it is time to restructure the Port of Seattle by first recalling everyone.

Great story on the Port. We live in a community of 224 residences (condos & townhomes) north of SeaTac Airport. We have contacted the port so many times regarding noise abatement it is like repeatedly running into a brick wall. I have been passified, lied to, promised, unpromised and now just plain informed that we will get abatement right after Hell freezes over. We have heard every excuse in the book. We have watched as they took care of those to the North, South, East and West of us. When the third runway opens they will practically be in our living room. As it is now, forget the evening news on a nice day. You won't be able to hear it. They blame everyone from the FAA to the cargo airlines but they don't feel any responsibility to do anything or help us toward a resolution. I would like to know who has the power.... And why our needs don't count! Our complex is nearly 40 years old and was the first planned community development of its kind in the State of Washington. When it was built the flightpaths were not a problem. We haven't change our development, the airport changed it.

You should work here. Its even worse on the front lines.