PORT TOWNSEND — The Jefferson County treasurer is retiring June 30 with six months left on her present term, her fourth.
Judi Morris, last elected in 2010, announced her decision in an April 23 letter to the three county commissioners.
“It has been a pleasure to work with each of you and an honor to work for the citizens of Jefferson County,” Morris told them.
Morris has been elected four times to the office, which has a four-year term. The first time was in 1998.
“I am retiring. We are moving on,” Morris said Tuesday.
“We sold our house and are moving to Arizona to be closer to our grandson, who has leukemia.”
Morris, 70, has said her decision to seek a fifth term hinged on selling her house. It sold this spring.
“Judi has done a great job,” said Jefferson County Superior Court Clerk Ruth Gordon.
“She has been a good friend, and I will miss her.”
Since Morris was elected as a Republican, the county party will select three names that will be submitted to the county commissioners.
The commissioners will then select one of those names to serve out the last six months of Morris’ term.
The appointed treasurer would begin work July 1.
He or she will run for election in November. The willingness to do so will be part of the selection criteria, according to Jefferson County Republican Chairman Gene Farr.
Farr said the party’s executive committee has already met twice and plans to meet again Thursday.
“We hope to identify three people that we can recommend to the commissioners,” Farr said. “It’s important that this is done in a timely manner.”
In-person candidate filing is set May 12-16. The primary is on Aug. 6, with the two top vote-getters advancing to the Nov. 5 general election.
The treasurer’s salary is $71,980 per year.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
