PORT ANGELES — City Council member and former Mayor Karen Rogers announced Tuesday that she will not run for re-election in November.
She did not rule out seeking another office.
“I don’t know. It’s certainly something that I would consider,” she said.
Rogers’ announcement makes her the third representative on the seven-member Port Angeles City Council who have said they will not run for re-election in the November general election.
Mayor Gary Braun also will not seek re-election after serving 16 years on the council, and City Council member Larry Williams, another senior member, is up against a term limit.
The council members can serve three consecutive four-year terms. There is no limit on terms as long as the council member takes a break after the third term.
Rogers — who was first elected to the City Council in 2001 and who served as mayor from 2006 to 2007 — isn’t up against a term limit.
“I want to focus time on my family, my business and I’m looking for some new opportunities,” she said.
Rogers owns the Port Angeles-based Rogers Consulting.
Wharton to run
Deputy Mayor Betsy Wharton is up for re-election this fall. She has said she will run for a second term.
“I would have been really happy to serve with her again,” Wharton said of Rogers.
“I think we all have strengths and we all have challenges,” Wharton added, “and I have appreciated a lot of her work. She is a smart person who puts in a huge amount of time.”
“[Rogers] has a really strong personality,” the deputy mayor said. “There has been some controversy about her. It’s a challenge that we’ve had to deal with.”
Council members Dan Di Guilio, Cherie Kidd and Don Perry were elected to their first terms in 2007.
Braun, 73, said it is also time for him to step down from the council and that he made that decision soon after starting his current term.
“I’ve been working with the city, for a couple of different departments, for a total of 43 years,” he said.
“I think that’s enough.”
Braun first served on the council from 1992 to 1999 and rejoined the council in 2002. He was also mayor from 1998 to 1999.
He also served as the city’s fire marshal and worked in the Port Angeles Fire Department for about 26 years. Before that, he was in the police reserves.
Perry said Rogers, Williams and Braun will be missed.
“We’re going to lose a good, educated and knowledgeable core of council members,” he said.
“And that just means that the newly elected members and those of us on the council are going to have to step up and move things in the city.
“We are going to miss their expertise and knowledge — there’s no doubt about it.”
‘Enough of politics’
Williams, who has been on the council since 1998, said he won’t seek another public office.
“I’ve had enough of politics. I’m out of it,” he said.
Williams said Rogers’ absence on the council is going to be a loss for the city.
“I’ve appreciated her immensely,” he said.
“I think it’s going to take some time for Port Angeles to really know just what a loss it will be to not have her on the council for a third term.”
Rogers said she made the decision last weekend because of the upcoming deadline for candidacy filings.
“I’ve been giving it serious consideration and finally made my decision recently,” she said.
Candiate filings
The candidate filing period is between June 1 and June 5.
Filing packets are available in the Clallam County Auditor’s Office election center on the lower level of the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.
People who file by mail can do so beginning Friday.
The general election will be held Nov. 3.
Remain on boards
Rogers said she will continue to serve on several boards, including the Olympic Medical Center Foundation and Peninsula College Foundation, and as president of the Clallam County Incubator Board of Directors.
Her tenure as president of the Association of Washington Cities will expire at the end of the year, she said.
“I’m going to continue working for this community, in the community” Rogers said.
“The only difference is I will not be in that chair. I’ll be in another role helping the community.”
Rogers referred to local infrastructure projects — such as the Eighth Street bridges replacement, the construction of The Gateway transit center, sewer expansions into urban growth areas and downtown sidewalk and water main projects as some of the council’s biggest accomplishments during her tenure.
She also listed the creation of the Port Angeles Harbor-Works Public Development Authority, recruiting Westport Shipyards and the Port Angeles Hardwood Mill and the settlement over the Tse-whit-zen village site as accomplishments in her written statement.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
