PORT ANGELES — Jim Haguewood, executive director of the Clallam County Economic Development Council since 2000, will leave the post in the spring, he announced Friday.
And the EDC’s marketing director, Mona Gates, will leave the organization at the end of January.
Haguewood wrote in a letter submitted to the council’s board on Friday that he had been in the position for 4½ years and it was “time to move on.”
Contacted Saturday, he denied that the departure was related to turmoil at Port Angeles City Hall that has included the recent resignations of three planning commissioners over linking land use planning with economic development.
“That has nothing to do with it,” Haguewood, whose resignation is effective March 30, said.
“This is something I’ve thought about for six months. People look at their careers and see what direction they want to go.
‘Nothing secret here’
“There’s nothing secret here. I’ve talked with both the outgoing president and incoming president, and they understand,” he said.
Haguewood also denied interest in the city’s economic development director vacancy recently held by the retired Tim Smith.
The position was supersized to community and economic development director as part of the city’s reorganization that triggered public outcry to the City Council and the trio of planning commissioner resignations.
“I did a lot of soul searching and decided to pursue other professional endeavors,” Haguewood said.
“This is the next step in my career. There’s no animosity or anything.” Haguewood said.
