PORT ANGELES — Jim McEntire submitted a letter of resignation from the Port of Port Angeles commission Thursday.
In the letter, McEntire claimed victory in his general election bid for a Clallam County commissioner seat.
“I resign my office, effective 8 a.m. Dec. 31, 2011, or effective the time and date of my being sworn in to the new office to which I have been elected, when such is certified,” McEntire said in the letter written to fellow Commissioners John Calhoun and George Schoenfeldt and delivered to the port office Thursday.
“It has been an honor to have served our port district alongside you,” he said.
“I wish you and your successors every success in the days ahead.”
By Thursday’s vote count, McEntire had garnered 10,566 votes, 51.93 of the 20,347 votes counted.
Linda Barnfather trailed McEntire by 785 votes, with 5,351 ballots remaining.
McEntire, a retired U.S. Coast Guard captain, has been a port commissioner since his election in 2008.
Calhoun and George Schoenfeldt could immediately begin the process of finding and appointing a replacement to finish the last two years of McEntire’s six-year term, said Holly Hairell, port human resources manager.
There is a state law in place governing the replacement of a port commissioner who resigns, said Jeff Robb, port executive director.
Robb declined to comment on that process, saying that only the commissioners may choose how to select the new commissioner.
According to state law, the vacancy must be filled within 90 days.
McEntire will not be a part of finding his replacement.
“The law does not allow me to participate in that process,” McEntire said.
McEntire’s successor for the District 1 seat would have to be from Eastern Callam County.
That area is rich with qualified people for the job, McEntire said.
It’s a part-time job that takes up about eight days per month — or more if the new commissioner chooses to be more engaged in the process, McEntire said.
Being port commissioner is very rewarding for a small government office, McEntire said.
“You actually get to see things accomplished.”
On Jan. 1, Calhoun will be the only remaining member of the current port commission.
Schoenfeldt declined to run for re-election and will be replaced with Commissioner-elect Jim Hallett, who ran unopposed for Port District 2 and received 100 percent of the vote.
If Calhoun and Schoenfeldt do not choose a successor for McEntire by the first week of January, Hallett will take Schoenfeldt’s place in the process.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
