Thomas Moak will not seek re-election to his District 2 seat for the Port of Kennewick this year.

The commissioner, who has served on the port’s board since 2014, in addition to stints in Kennewick City Hall and Olympia, said in a news release that he will retire at the end of 2025.

“I reflect back on last year when then-Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) announced he would not seek another term in the Senate, saying, ‘Frankly it’s time for a new generation of leaders.’  I feel that way today,” Moak said in the release.

Moak joined the port board after defeating then-incumbent port commissioner Gene Wagner and former Benton County commissioner Leo Bowman for the District 2 seat, which covers east Kennewick and Finley. 

Prior to his service with the port, he served on the Kennewick City Council for 12 years, including as mayor in 2009. Moak’s first elected office was when he was appointed to fill a vacancy in the state House of Representatives in 1994 but he only served one year before he was defeated by now-Benton County Commissioner Jerome Delvin.

Moak said his advocacy for transforming Vista Field into something besides an airfield led to his being ousted from the city council as special interests wanting the airfield campaigned against him. He said he stands behind the project, and the port is now selling commercial lots at the mixed-use development and businesses are moving in. 

“I believe in time, Vista Field redevelopment will prove to be one of the greatest developments in the Tri-Cities and its use of New Urbanism as its basis, will be proven very forward-thinking,” Moak said.

Individuals interested in running for the District 2 seat will be able to file for inclusion on the ballot May 5-9.