Antony Barran
Oyster farmer, business leader.
I became aware of Antony Barran by reading an article about his oyster farm. The Columbian story was about his sustainable, biodynamic approach to aqua culture. Soon after, I also discovered Barran was a candidate for U.S. House in the 3rd District — where I live.
Antony and his wife Cora live and work on the Long Beach Peninsula, in Ocean Park. This is in my neck of the woods, so I reached out and he invited me to The Yacht Club.
There was some dissonance in my thinking. Has Ocean Park gone posh? I drove my old VW out to meet Antony at the club. There were no yachts! He and Cora did an extensive remodel on an 1890s building near the main intersection. It’s a nice place, about a quarter mile from the beach.
To the east is the shallow and muddy Willapa Bay. I asked Antony if he commuted by boat to part of his oyster operation in Bay Center? He said it’s easier to drive around the bay.
No yachts or boating lifestyle?! The Barran’s use the building to teach youth how to build small sail boats and also learn the basics of sailing. There are parts of the calm waters of the Willapa, with that summer northern wind, which are a great place to teach sailing.
The Barran’s also host a local music night on Saturday’s at the club. There you have it — Ocean Park is not posh, however, it is nice.
Antony spent mosts of his career in Los Angeles, working in the advertising and promotion business. He was born in London to an English father and Lithuanian mother. His family immigrated to the United States and lived in Southern California. Antony grew up in the San Fernando Valley.
Ten years ago, Antony and Cora moved to the Long Beach Peninsula where they got into oyster farming and the local community.
We sat down in Ocean Park and Antony told me why he was running for office.
He said Southwest Washington needs to make its own way. We’re getting hit from both Washington’s. Olympia and D.C. policies are impacting people. Fuel prices in our state are already among the highest in the country. This is the result of policy choices. Now, U.S. foreign policy is setting us up for more costs at the pump. Energy underlies all other costs. When gasoline and diesel become more expensive, so does manufacturing, agriculture, transportation and heating.
He says Congress does not control global energy markets, but it can influence opportunity. For most of American history, families stayed ahead of costs because their earning power grew. Barran says we must strengthen the economic engine —small business and entrepreneurship— that allows incomes to outpace the cost of living.
One solution Barran is promotting is for small, independent businesses to band together within a Professional Employer Organization (PEO). Barran says this is about making our own way — we can’t wait for politicians and their promises. A PEO group allows Mom & Pop business to obtain important things like health insurance for their employees at scale. This offers the lower costs big business gets. Benefits within a PEO are portable — this gives workers latitude to move among different employers.
Antony was recently appointed to Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council (PacMtn). This is an Olympia-based non-profit leading workforce development across the five SW Washington counties, connecting businesses with a skilled workforce and providing training for job seekers. The organization focuses on regional economic prosperity, supporting sectors like food production and implementing a "One Workforce" vision to reduce poverty.
Barran is critical of the so-called “gig economy”. He says big business are outsourcing costs. People have to hustle in the the gig economy and many can’t stay ahead. This is why the efforts of PacMtn and PEOs are important. The goal with these structures is to empower people. The term for this is community capitalism.
"Stable jobs with benefits are what help people stay ahead.", said Barran.
Antony is excited about representing Cascade Party on the 2026 ballot. Parties outside of the dominating GOP and Democrats offer voters more choices. Cascade is packaging the issues for voters as they consider the choices on their ballot.
I’m getting to know Antony Barran better. As the election season progresses, you’ll also get acquainted with Antony and his vision for Southwest Washington.
Meet Antony Barran - April 10 at 6:30pm. (Cascade Bar & Grill 15000 SE Mill Plain Blvd, Vancouver 98684).
MORE SUMMIT