Interim ferry chief once a ticket seller

By Susan Gilmore
Seattle Times staff reporter

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Mike Anderson, director of marine operations for Washington State Ferries, has been named interim director of the ferry system.

Anderson, who has worked for the ferries for 31 years after starting in high school as a ticket seller, begins his new job tomorrow.

He replaces Secretary of Transportation Doug MacDonald, who temporarily took over the ferry system after the resignation of ferry chief Mike Thorne in October.

Thorne was appointed to the top ferry post in January 2002.

Anderson, 49, said he will be a candidate for the permanent job.

"The advantage of an interim appointment is like test-driving a car," said Anderson. "Obviously I would not have taken on an acting role if I wasn't interested in the job on a permanent basis."

He said he was not a candidate when Thorne was hired.

Anderson said he will face many challenges, such as the construction of new ferries, keeping down ferry fare increases and trying to get food service restored to the ferry runs.

He said he was a member of the Inland Boatmen's Union (IBU) for 25 years, so has a working relationship with the union. The IBU represents the ferry food workers and has been unable to reach agreement with a food concessionaire to restore food service on most Puget Sound runs.

Anderson, who lives in Normandy Park, will be paid $127,000 a year.
 
Susan Gilmore: 206-464-2054 or sgilmore@seattletimes.com