Port Commissioner District 3 Wayne Vinyard Passes Away
Port Commissioner Passes Away
Bingen, Washington – Port Commissioner Wayne Vinyard unexpectedly passed away April 19, 2026.
Vinyard represented Commissioner District #3 4,482 people who live in the approximate areas of Glenwood, Husum, and Trout Lake. He was elected to the Port Commission in January 1994 and re-elected for 5 additional terms serving 32 years.
“This is a tragic loss for the Port, for our Port community,” said Margie Ziegler the Port's Executive Director.
In addition to serving on the Port Commission, Vinyard served as the representative for Washington Ports on the Klickitat County Public Economic Development Authority (KCPEDA) board. He kept the Port of Klickitat’s mission of regional economic development in all the well-thought-out decisions he made. The Port has many infrastructure improvements during Wayne’s time as a commissioner that have paved the way for our current tenants and future tenants.
When Wayne started in 1994 there were no buildings in Bingen, today there are 9 at Bingen and 6 in Dallesport. Wayne helped created over 80,00 SF of leasable space.
Wayne held a strong focus on economic development and he was committed to attracting and retaining family wage jobs for the community members. His legacy of service will live on.
In accordance with state law, the Port Commission will appoint a replacement to serve until a commissioner is selected in the November 2027 election. The elected commissioner will then serve the remaining two years of Vinyard’s six-year term. Individuals located in Port Commission District #3 who are interested in serving are encouraged to contact the Port at 509-493-1655 or port@portofklickitat.com.
For more information, please contact: Margie Ziegler, Executive Director ■ 509-493-1655 ■ mziegler@portofklickitat.com