Endorsement: Ed Oppel, Port Commission

Ed Oppel, who is facing a challenger for his Palm Beach Port Commission seat, should make himself comfortable. His experience over his opponent, Cedrick Thomas, makes him the better candidate for the seat.

Oppel has 10 years of experience in port operations and procedures, including serving as director of the Bridgeport, Conn. Port Authority from 1992 to 1996, and serving as director of the Port of Palm Beach from 1996 to 2000. This experience has provided him with the expertise whoever is in that seat would need to face the upcoming port commission term, which will be a challenging one. The port is undergoing a five-year capital improvement plan. Another challenge for this term is the security issues, another item for which Oppel's experience prepares him.

While Thomas' experience as a police office may have prepared him for the security issues that may come up during the upcoming port commission, he lacks the experience in actual port operations and procedures, experience that Oppel will need for this term.