PORT TOWNSEND — The public can meet the five finalists for the Jefferson Transit Authority general manager Monday and Tuesday.
The transit board will interview on Thursday the finalists for the position vacated by former general manager Dave Turissini.
Turissini, who left in January for a position with Sound Transit in Seattle, was paid $74,000 annually, and that is about the expected pay for the new manager.
Mike Pollack, Jefferson Transit’s service and training supervisor, is serving as interim manager.
The board had expected to fill the position by mid-year.
The finalists are:
• Peter Behrman, former director of transportation for Veolia Transportation, the largest public contractor for Las Vegas, Nev., Rapid Transit.
• Peggy Hanson, director of Transit operations at Tri Met in Portland, Ore., since 2007. She filled several other jobs at Tri Met, including a bus operator, during the last 20 years.
• Brad Patterson of Greeley, Colo., transit services division manager for four years and a former transportation specialist for the Colorado Department of Transportation.
• Frank Poulsen, former Clallam Transit operations manager from 2005-2009 and operations manager of Santa Fe (N.M.) Trails transportation before that.
• Kim Stone, manager of business operations for North County Transit District in Oceanside, Calif., since 2000.
The Jefferson Transit Authority board, with assistance from the state Department of Transportation will host two opportunities for community members to meet the top candidates for general manager.
The meetings are:
• Monday, 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. — The informal reception will be in the lobby of the Bishop Victorian Hotel, 714 Washington St., Port Townsend.
• Tuesday, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. — The panel interview will be at Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Hall, 2333 San Juan Ave., Port Townsend.
Written comments from the public about the finalists will be accepted.
Light refreshment will be provided at Monday’s reception. On Tuesday, only appointed panel members will be asking questions, but the public will have the opportunity to provide comment to the transit board.
“These two events not only give community members an opportunity to meet the top candidates for Jefferson Transit’s top executive position and provide feedback to the board, but it also gives the candidates an idea of the community they will be serving,” said Catharine Robinson, authority board chairwoman.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
