PORT ANGELES — Sheila Roark Miller, the nation’s only publicly elected county community development director, will seek a second four-year term to the Clallam County post.
Roark Miller, 55, made the announcement in an interview with the Peninsula Daily News.
“I’m hoping to continue to serve the Clallam County citizens as we approach the final stretch of our Shoreline Master Program update, the looming deadlines in 2016 for a mandatory comprehensive plan update, while grappling with the newest marijuana law, approved by the citizens of Washington state last year,” Roark Miller said in a follow-up email to the PDN.
Roark Miller defeated incumbent John Miller, no relation, with 53.5 percent of the vote in the 2010 election.
She cited the 2011 implementation of an online permit system, the 2012 adoption of a fire protection ordinance and continuing public outreach efforts as accomplishments in her first term.
The Department of Community Development, or DCD, is responsible for comprehensive planning and processing development and building permits.
Two other positions
In addition to the DCD directorship, Roark Miller automatically serves as the Clallam County fire marshal and building official.
Roark Miller said her 24 years of experience working in the department “translates well” to her elected post.
“It has allowed me to network a breadth of local and legislative contacts surrounding our building and land-use laws and regulations, notwithstanding the complex WRIA [Water Resource Inventory Area] 18 Dungeness Water Rule of 2013,” Roark Miller said.
Roark Miller, who resides in the Port Angeles area, said her family’s 100-year heritage in Clallam County provides a “unique understanding of our citizen’s viewpoints and unique cultural and ecological diversity, both from the west to the east end of the county.”
Filing in May
Filing week for the Aug. 5 primary is May 12-16. The general election is Nov. 4.
Other Clallam County positions up for election are held by county Commissioner Mike Doherty, Sheriff Bill Benedict, Prosecuting Attorney William Payne, Auditor Patty Rosand, Treasurer Selinda Barkhuis, Assessor Pam Rushton, District Court 1 Judge Rick Porter, District Court 2 Judge John Doherty and Clallam County Public Utility District Commissioner Hugh Haffner.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
