Alan Basso has served as a Kalama Port Commissioner since 2012. He is a long-time Kalama resident and currently serves as a Lieutenant and Fire Investigator with the Longview Fire Department. Basso graduated from Kalama High School in 1980, earned a BA degree at Washington State University in 1986 and received an AAS in Fire Protection Technology from Portland Community College in 2010.
Alan is fourth generation Kalama citizen—his maternal grandfather, Otto Kockritz, was born here in 1890. His father built the Kockritz Hotel in 1908, which is now home to Poker Pete’s. Alan’s maternal great grandmother moved to Kalama, settling up the River in 1904 on a farm known as ‘The Red Barn.’ His paternal grandparents emigrated from Finland and settled on Green Mountain in 1919. In 1923, Alan’s great aunt and husband arrived and purchased a nearby farm. In 1948, his parents bought the great aunt’s home, and he, in turn, bought it to keep it all in the family.
“There are so many things I am so proud of during my tenure at the Port—of the 75 public ports in Washington state, Kalama is one of about six that carries out our business without levying a property tax,” said Basso. “Together, this commission has signed a contract to modernize and operate TEMCO, which offers a revenue stream for many years to come; we built Haydu Park; we started work on the Spencer Creek Business Park; we brought McMenamins to Kalama and the Marina has been modernized. And the amphitheater will be ready for use this spring. But I think that the biggest accomplishment is the fact that as Commissioners, we can set policy, turn our small staff of professionals lose, and get things done.”
