PORT ANGELES — Port of Port Angeles commissioners selected four finalists for the executive director position, but the identities of the four are being kept secret.
The four candidates were identified only by the numbers 8, 12, 18 and 19 in the motion made by Commissioner George Schoenfeldt and seconded by Commissioner Jim McEntire during a special meeting Wednesday.
The commissioners considered 22 applicants in a closed-door executive session.
Former Executive Director Bob McChesney’s last day was May 15. He resigned to take the top post at the Port of Edmonds, where he began June 1. Port Finance Director Bill James is serving as interim director.
No salary range was listed for the executive director position. McChesney was making $123,000 when he resigned.
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Commission President John Calhoun on Wednesday declined to provide any information about the finalists — including names, ages, region of current residence or gender.
Interviews with the four candidates will be scheduled as soon as possible, Calhoun said, adding that commissioners hope to select a new director before their original goal of mid-August.
No specific date was set.
“All of the commissioners would like to complete this process as expeditiously as possible,” Calhoun said.
The commissioners met on Monday to begin consideration of the candidates, and then selected the finalists after a 11âÑ2-hour executive session Wednesday.
“I never know how these motions are going to go,” Calhoun said.
“I was holding my breath until the motion was made, to see if we really had come to the same conclusion on the candidates.”
McEntire said that he was pleased with all of the responses.
“I’m so grateful for everyone that took the time to apply for this position,” he said.
“There was a really good group of candidates.”
The finalist interviews have been tentatively scheduled for the beginning of August.
Holly Hairell, human resources manager, is managing the search in lieu of the port hiring a consultant.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
