PORT HADLOCK — Barney Burke has been appointed to the Jefferson County Public Utility District commission.
The other two commissioners, Wayne King and Ken McMillen, arose from a 45-minute closed executive session Wednesday night to appoint the former weekly newspaper reporter to the District 1 seat left vacant by the death of Dana Roberts in November.
Burke will begin work immediately. The appointee serves from the date of appointment until the November 2010 general election, at which time a six-year term in office will be open.
In a prepared statement, Burke, 54, said, “After talking it over with quite a few people in the last six months, I am announcing today that should I be appointed, I will definitely be a candidate for the six-year term in the November 2010 election.”
Burke, who also has a long background in public planning and economic development in California, left his position at The Leader, aweekly newspaper in Port Townsend, Dec. 31.
With only two commissioners to make the decision, McMillen and King took turns nominating a candidate from the six applicants, after spending most of Wednesday afternoon interviewing each of them.
When one or the other commissioner did not second the nomination, they moved to the next nominee. Burke was nominated by McMillen. After a brief pause, King seconded the nomination.
The other applicants were Sam Gibboney, principal owner with Port Townsend-based ISE Consultants; former Port of Port Townsend commissioner and City Councilman Bob Sokol; Team Jefferson economic development council Chairman Bill Wise; former Jefferson County Commissioner Larry Dennison, who is a Port Townsend restaurateur; and Jerry Spieckerman, a retiree active in community service.
Major decision
McMillen and King agreed that a choice had to be made on Wednesday, especially in light of the fact that at least one major decision is at hand.
The agency is examining its option authorized by voters in November 2008 to get into the electric service business, and is now negotiating with Puget Sound Energy to possibly take over that company’s facilities and service in East Jefferson County.
Voters in November 2008 granted PUD the authority to get into the electric service business to provide discounted power to the more than 18,000 East Jefferson County customers now served by Puget Sound Energy.
“I’m delighted that there are so many people that would like to have the job,” McMillen said.
King said he was impressed by the way Burke answered the interview questions. McMillen agreed.
Burke told the commissioners it was an honor to be chosen from a list of high-calibre applicants.
King said he was honored that so many good applicants came forward and took the time to be interviewed.
“We’ve got so many good people here,” King said. “Not all professional politicians. It’s a hell of a job and far more than two PUD meetings a month.”
The PUD commissioner has regularly scheduled meetings on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. Special meetings are called as needed.
Commissioner benefits are a monthly salary of $1,000, per diem at a rate of $90 per meeting and medical coverage.
PUD is staffed by nine full-time employees, and has an annual budget of more than $2 million.
PUD serves 3,500 water customers and 200 septic system connections.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
