PORT ANGELES — Applications for the soon to be vacant Port of Port Angeles commission seat are available beginning today, Jeff Robb, port executive director, said Monday.
Commissioner Jim McEntire reconfirmed his resignation effective at the end of the year during Monday’s port commission meeting after his apparent election as Clallam County commissioner.
McEntire had faxed his resignation to the port office on Thursday.
The application to complete the last two years of McEntire’s six-year term is available at the port offices, 338 W. First St., in Port Angeles.
Robb recommended that the deadline for applications be set for Dec. 2, to allow for interviews and a first possible vote at the commission’s Dec. 12 meeting.
A replacement must be selected within 90 days of the vacancy, Robb said.
Candidates must be registered voters and live within the Port of Port Angeles District 1 boundary, which is generally east of McDonald Creek to the eastern Jefferson County line.
Legal notice and accepting applications are the first steps in the process.
The commissioners will determine how to proceed from there, Robb said.
Official candidate interviews and the final selection must take place in public session.
Port attorney Dave Neupert was directed to research whether commissioners could speak to candidates privately on an individual basis.
With only two commissioners able to vote, a tie is possible.
If John Calhoun and George Schoenfeldt are deadlocked, the Board of County Commissioners is given the authority to select a replacement, Neupert said.
McEntire had faxed a letter of resignation to the port office on Thursday, following Tuesday’s general election.
On Monday, McEntire issued a second, slightly amended letter.
His Thursday letter said: “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.”
The second letter added the phrase “whichever is earlier.”
Once he had officially announced his resignation Monday, McEntire sat back to allow Calhoun and Schoenfeldt to plan for his replacement.
By state law, McEntire cannot be a part of that process, he said.
After the meeting, McEntire confirmed that he will continue representing the port to the very end, and plans to attend several conferences in November and December.
They include the Washington Public Ports Association annual meeting, Dec.7-9, in Bellevue with Calhoun and Commissioner-elect Jim Hallett.
“The public benefits from anything we can do to learn and do better,” McEntire said.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
