PORT ANGELES — Former Mayor Patrick Downie, who battled cancer while ushering the city through difficult times, died Thursday.
He was in his mid-70s.
Current Mayor Sissi Bruch announced his passing at 5 p.m. at the beginning of a joint meeting between the City Council and Clallam County commissioners.
City officials were notified of Downie’s death about 15 minutes before the meeting, City Clerk Jennifer Veneklasen said.
He had been in the hospital before returning home a few weeks ago.
Funeral arrangements are pending, Veneklasen said.
Patrick and his wife, Jayne, moved to Port Angeles in 1974.
He was program coordinator for the Clallam County Volunteer Chore services program of Catholic Community Services for more than 12 years before being elected to the City Council in November 2009.
Downie retired from the job in April 2010 at age 68 to spend more time time with his wife and devote his energies to council duties.
Those duties included serving as mayor when a community debate over fluoridation led to ethics complaints against council members, including Downie, and an effort by fluoridation opponents to establish second-class status for the city, which would have resulted in a loss of home-rule powers.
Downie, a fluoridation proponent strongly opposed to the second-class city proposal, voted against fluoridation in August 2016 as the key vote in a 4-3 decision, compromising, he said, to take the city beyond an extended, rancorous period.
He did not seek re-election in November.
“I’ve never regretted a moment,” Downie said in December at his last council meeting.
“I never tried to be a politician.
“I’m just me.
“Working with all of you in this audience day after day, week after week, for eight years or more, has been life sustaining.
“I wish you all well.”
________
Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
