PORT TOWNSEND — After a year without a permanent fire chief, East Jefferson Fire Rescue, Jefferson County’s largest fire district, will welcome a new leader on Jan. 15.
Chuck Tandy will take command of the district on a five-year contract with a base salary of $90,000.
“This is really great,” said Tandy — who is now the fire chief in Washington City, Utah — after accepting the contract offer Tuesday.
“I’m really excited about this. I’m entering a very well-organized, very well-trained, very well-operated system here, with a lot of passion for the work they do.
“It looks like this is the perfect fit.”
The district announced that Tandy was its finalist last week, but agreement on a contract was not reached until Tuesday morning.
“I’m happy with the result,” Rich Stapf Jr., board chairman, said.
“It’s been a long, thorough process, but it was worth it.
“I believe [Tandy] will lead our organization into the future.”
In his public introduction in October, Tandy, 53, said he has 28 years of professional experience, including 17 years in management and administration.
Four finalists for the position, which has been vacant since January, met the public last month and interviewed with members of local law enforcement, Jefferson County government, the city of Port Townsend, and the fire district staff.
“I’m privileged and honored to have been accepted,” Tandy said.
“I think the district would have been good with any of the four finalists, so I am happy to be the one here today.”
Tandy said the next step would be for he and his wife, Debbie, to find a house.
“I want to get settled in, and get to know the crew first,” Tandy said.
“It appears to me that this place is well-managed and well-run, so that will make my job easy.”
The district — which serves Port Townsend, Cape George, Chimacum, Irondale, Kala Point, Marrowstone Island and Port Hadlock — has been without a permanent chief since former Chief Mike Mingee left in January for a position as the Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District chief in Santa Barbara County, Calif.
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Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.
