A statement from Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon regarding Boeings plans to expand its newly purchased plant in South Carolina.

"As Ive been saying since January, the competition to land the second line of the 787 is real and robust. The Boeing Companys most recent actions indicate that the company sees North Charleston as a site with tremendous possibilities, and that the company is indeed poised to maximize the plant to its fullest potential.

"There has been much consternation by leaders throughout Washington state regarding the Boeing Companys approach to determining a site for the second line of the 787. Rather than debate the Boeing Companys sincerity, Washington state, as a whole, must make the conscious decision whether to maintain dominance in the commercial aerospace industry.

"As elected officials, we demand that the Boeing Company and the union diligently work to resolve their differences. In the same vein, elected officials across this state must cease their negative rhetoric.

"Our goal as policy leaders must be clear, and that is to create the most competitive regional and state economic environment for the future of commercial aerospace. We must do whatever is necessary to keep the Boeing Company in Washington state, thus protecting tens of thousands of jobs related to the aerospace industry."