PORT ANGELES — Alan Barnard, associate broker and owner of Re/Max Performance Team in Port Angeles, has announced his candidacy for Clallam County Department of Community Development director.
“The DCD has good, competent people who, through their knowledge and experience, accomplish a great deal for our citizens,” Barnard said in a prepared statement.
“I believe, however, that an expansion of the service culture of this department is necessary beyond the current limited scope, to more effectively assist our citizens in several areas of concern.”
John Miller is the incumbent community development director.
Miller was not prepared on Tuesday to make an announcement regarding his candidacy.
Filing week for the Nov. 2 general election is June 7-11.
“I have been contacted by many individuals in our community asking me to declare my candidacy for this elected position,” Barnard said.
“These folks who regularly require the services of the DCD have told me they feel strongly that the current leadership agenda is too narrow and that service needs more consistency and responsiveness.”
Clallam County is the only county in the nation where the community development director is elected. The DCD director serves a four-year term.
“The DCD is an integral player in affecting the local economy,” Barnard said.
“It is charged with helping our citizens accomplish what the law and current regulations allow property owners to do with their property.”
New regulations must be clearly defined, justified and “weighed against shrinking budgets, declining revenues and the critical need for family wage jobs” when proposed, Barnard said.
“Effective code enforcement is vital to protecting environmental quality, safety and code adherence. . . . All these must be balanced and given full attention, which is the responsibility of the director to insure.
“As this is not consistently the case currently, I will assist the department to achieve that necessary balance and attention when elected.”
Barnard is the chairman of both the Port Angeles city’s Public Safety Advisory Board and the Clallam County Sheriff’s Citizens Advisory Committee.
He is the county emergency management aviation coordinator. He also represents the city of Port Angeles on the Clallam County Opportunity Fund Board.
He has been the Port Angeles stop organizer for the Wings of Freedom tour when it brings vintage World War II aircraft to William R. Fairchild International Airport for a living history exhibit.
Barnard led a citizens group to dedicate a 9/11 monument at Francis Street Park on Sept. 11 of 2002.
If elected, Barnard said he will set aside his real estate career to eliminating any perception of conflict of interest.
“I have always felt that public servants must operate not from power over the citizens but from responsibility to the citizens,” he said.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
