PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson County has had a management turnover, with newly elected officials in seven of nine county offices having been installed.
“There is a fresh wind and an intention for people to work together,” said Kathleen Kler after she was sworn in as the District 2 county commissioner Friday
“With all the storm damage, we realize that we are small and isolated and all that we have are each other,” she added, referring to the Dec. 9-11 storms that flooded areas of Brinnon and caused massive electrical power outages.
Kler said she would work hard “to keep the county healthy, safe and vital.”
About 100 people crowded the Jefferson County Superior Courtroom, where Judge Keith Harper recessed court proceedings to accommodate the ceremony.
Those who took oaths of office in addition to Kler were Auditor Rose Ann Carroll, Assessor Jeff Chapman, Superior Court Clerk Ruth Gordon, District Court Judge Jill Landes, Prosecuting Attorney Mike Haas, Public Utility District Commissioner Ken Collins, Sheriff David Stanko and Treasurer Stacie Prada, formerly known as Stacie Hoskins.
Chapman, Prada and Stanko were already in office since they had been appointed to fill unexpired terms.
Following the ceremony, officials talked about what’s ahead.
Collins, who defeated incumbent Ken McMillen, predicted that the Jefferson County PUD would now better communicate with its customers.
“I think it will be a more open process, more transparent,” he said.
“The public will feel a greater outreach in terms of communication about what the PUD is going to do and how decisions are going to be made.”
Collins said the PUD will provide a clearer picture of what services are available for low-income customers.
While the elected officials have changed in many cases, the staff has not, with Landes and Haas both attributing the success of their offices to the support staff.
Training sessions
Stanko said he has several training sessions planned for the Sheriff’s Office.
He plans an external evaluation by Lee DeVore, a retired chief of police who worked with Stanko in California and who now lives in Idaho.
The evaluation is scheduled this Tuesday through Thursday. The cost won’t exceed travel or per diem charges, Stanko said.
Results will be presented to county officials to help make the department more efficient, he said.
Also planned is a Blue Courage and Guardianship workshop to take place from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 16 at the Chimacum Fire Station, 9193 Chimacum Road.
The workshop will be conducted by former King County Sheriff Sue Rohr and is open to the public, Stanko said.
New court system
Gordon said she expects a new statewide court management system will be implemented during this term but hopes Jefferson County will be last “because we don’t want to be beta testers.”
“In elected office, you never know what’s coming, and laws change every year,” Gordon said.
“There is always an edge to it.
“There are always decisions to make, and you are always making decisions that you haven’t made before.”
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
