PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson County District 1 Commissioner Phil Johnson will not run for a fourth term, he said Monday.
“It was a tough decision, but it was the right decision,” he said. “I’m just shy of 71 and retirement seems to be a good idea.”
He was first elected in 2004 along with District 2 Commissioner David Sullivan, who announced his intention to run for a fourth term earlier this month.
Johnson, a Democrat whose term expires at the end of the year, said he has already talked to six people who are interested in running for his seat but would not do so if he were to run for another term.
Jefferson County Democratic Chairman Bruce Cowan said he’d talked to several people interested in the seat “who may come forward soon.”
Johnson said he hoped that his successor will have a keen understanding of environmental issues.
Johnson said he is most proud of his involvement in the Atlantic Salmon net pen issue, where he pushed for a stringent permit process for the establishment of fish farms in Jefferson County waters.
This action ended up delaying the approval of the county’s Shoreline Master Plan for several years.
Johnson said that he was disappointed that the county was not able to build the Port Hadlock sewer system but was “pleased that we got it to be shovel ready,”
Johnson said he intends to spend time in two places after his retirement: the Olympic Mountains and his own garden.
“I expect to live long enough to ride my bike on the Olympic Discovery Trail to LaPush for a cup of coffee,” Johnson said of the proposed 130-mile trail, which has been partially constructed and is expected to be finished as funding is secured.
Johnson’s district includes the city of Port Townsend, bordered on the southwest by Hastings Avenue and Cape George and Discovery roads.
Candidate filing week takes place from May 16 to May 20.
Candidates who file will compete in the August 2 primary with the top two vote-getters, regardless of party, facing off in the Nov. 8 general election.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
