A port authority is generally a semi-public corporation that administrates the facility on behalf of the county (sometimes city but usually county) which owns the land. The authority board is generally appointed or elected depending on local laws.
The port authority may have employees of its own (usually a CEO, CFO, managers and assistants for each facility, and some clericals, with the county attorney's office representing them legally), and subcontract out to labor unions and port operating corporations (Signature Aviation, AMP Terminals, etc) as well as negotiating leases with tenant entities (airlines, shipping companies, even the DoD).
I'm not familiar with the specific circumstances of Seattle.
It looks like the managing entity is the Northwest Seaport Alliance, a partnership between the Port of Seattle and Port of Tacoma. My guess is they're probably corrupt and China friendly.
Usually there is a port authority.
A port authority is generally a semi-public corporation that administrates the facility on behalf of the county (sometimes city but usually county) which owns the land. The authority board is generally appointed or elected depending on local laws.
The port authority may have employees of its own (usually a CEO, CFO, managers and assistants for each facility, and some clericals, with the county attorney's office representing them legally), and subcontract out to labor unions and port operating corporations (Signature Aviation, AMP Terminals, etc) as well as negotiating leases with tenant entities (airlines, shipping companies, even the DoD).
I'm not familiar with the specific circumstances of Seattle.
It looks like the managing entity is the Northwest Seaport Alliance, a partnership between the Port of Seattle and Port of Tacoma. My guess is they're probably corrupt and China friendly.