PORT ANGELES — Bob McChesney, executive director of the Port of Port Angeles, announced today that he has been offered the top job at the Port of Edmonds.
The retiring Edmonds executive director Chris Keuss said the commissioners interviewed the final three candidates on Friday and made a decision at that time to offer the job to McChesney.
The port had previously said commissioners might decide on a new leader at meeting today, but that meeting was canceled when the decision was made on Friday.
McChesney said that he would not comment on the job.
“It is something that I would say is still under discussion,” he said.
The other two candidates for the job were Grant Dull, executive director of the Lynnwood Public Facilities District, and Steve Burkett, former city manager for the city of Shoreline.
“We have five port commissioners and they are the ones that make that decision,” Keuss said.
“But I think they felt — what they talked about during the review process anyway — was that his background in the port industry was important.
“The other two really didn’t have that type of background and that was one of the things they really liked about Mr. McChesney.”
Keuss said the commissioners would work on negotiating a contract with McChesney and that ratification of a contract was set for April 13 at the 7 p.m. meeting.
EARLIER VERSION:
PORT ANGELES — Port of Port Angeles Executive Director Bob McChesney is among three finalists for the top post at the Port of Edmonds.
McChesney, who was named one of the top three candidates by the port on Thursday, has worked in Port Angeles since 2004.
The other two candidates for the Edmonds post are Grant Dull, executive director of the Lynnwood public Facilities District, and Steve Burkett, former city manager for the city of Shoreline, the Edmonds Beacon reported on Thursday.
“I am not surprised that Bob’s skills have been recognized,” President of the Port of Port Angeles commissioners John Calhoun said.
“We are really hoping that we get to keep him, but we will see how the process plays out.”
McChesney did not return calls for comment.
Final interviews of the candidates were on Friday.
The Port of Edmonds said on its Web site that it might hold a meeting today at 9 a.m. to select a final candidate.
Contract approval was scheduled for an April 13 meeting at 7 p.m.
Current executive director Chris Keuss is retiring effective May 31, the Beacon reported.
Port Commissioner Jim McEntire said that he, too, would not want McChesney to leave Port Angeles.
“We would really hate to lose him, but on the other hand I’m a strong proponent of people doing what they want to do,” McEntire said.
“I wish him the best if he gets the job — just as I wish him the best if he stays here.”
McChesney earns about $123,000 at his current post.
He moved to Port Angeles from the Port of Everett where he was the director of properties and development.
He has been working closely with Port of Port Angeles staff and government officials to attract the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s new base to Port Angeles.
NOAA is looking to move its fleet from Seattle’s Lake Union when its lease runs out in 2011 to a location in Puget Sound or the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
In addition to Port Angeles, the ports of Bellingham, Seattle and Newport, Ore., are campaigning to win the NOAA base.
“The staff is well-briefed on the issue,” Calhoun said.
“It would complicate things if we were to lose him, but it doesn’t change the priorities of the port or the staff.”
The third port commissioner, George Schoenfeldt, did not return calls for comment.
Officials at the Port of Edmonds could not be reached on Sunday.
