PORT TOWNSEND — A former Port Townsend fire chief has been selected as an East Jefferson Fire-Rescue commissioner to fill the seat vacated by the death of Jess Bondurant, who died in September.
Ed Edwards, who served as chief from 2001 to 2004, attended his first meeting as commissioner Tuesday night.
There are three commissioners on the Fire Board.
“I had no desire to become a fire commissioner, but after Jess died, the fire department expressed a need,” said Edwards, 63.
“It was a way for me to get involved and for me to accomplish something.”
Bondurant, who died Sept. 6 of congestive heart failure, was unopposed in his bid for another six-year term as commissioner, which was to begin in January.
Edwards was selected to fill two years of the term. He can run in 2013 to serve the term’s last four years.
On Wednesday, Edwards said he hasn’t committed to running for the position then.
“I don’t have a predilection either way,” he said.
“We’ll have to see how it goes.”
Edwards said he doesn’t have any specific goals but intends to work toward the annexation of Port Townsend into the East Jefferson Fire-Rescue district.
“If the city is part of the fire district, then it will make fire service easier,” he said.
Edwards served as the chief of the Port Townsend Fire Department from 2001 to 2004.
He began as interim chief of the department, which existed until the city went to contracting services from the East Jefferson Fire-Rescue department.
Edwards was selected Nov. 10.
The two other applicants for the position were John H. “Jay” Garthwaite and David C. Harrah.
Rich Stapf, East Jefferson Fire-Rescue board chairman, made the motion to appoint Edwards. It was seconded by Commissioner Zane Wyll, and Edwards was sworn in by district Secretary Lonibeth Harbison.
Edwards is a longtime Port Townsend-area resident who graduated from Port Townsend High School in 1966.
Edwards had a 29-year career in fire service, beginning as a firefighter with the Seattle Fire Department and working as a paramedic, captain, battalion chief and assistant fire marshal.
He returned to Port Townsend in 1991 and commuted to Seattle before retiring in 1998.
“The department has a lot of things going on right now with new staffing, expansions and station upgrades,” Edwards said.
“I want to help accomplish this so it can be done smoothly.”
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
