PORT ANGELES — The two sitting Port of Port Angeles commissioners have laid out the process for appointing a commissioner to replace Jim Hallett, who has resigned from his seat.
Hallett’s resignation was effective Monday. The 60-year-old Port Angeles resident had represented District 2, the central part of the county.
During a special meeting Friday afternoon, Commissioners Connie Beauvais and Colleen McAleer directed staff to begin the process of accepting applications from registered voters in District 2 interested in succeeding Hallett.
Beginning Tuesday, the port will begin a two-week advertising campaign seeking candidates.
Applications, which will be available online beginning next week at www.portofpa.com, are due to the port by 9 a.m. Feb. 22.
Candidates are expected to be in the position for the long haul, completing the two years left on Hallett’s current term and giving a verbal commitment to run for office during the next election cycle in 2017, the two commissioners said.
Within 90 days
By state law, the port commission must appoint a successor to Hallett within 90 days of the date his resignation became effective.
While the commissioners are not required to fill the vacant seat until the end of April, McAleer said she hopes to expedite the process.
At 9 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, a meeting will be held to gather public input.
“It is my strong intent . . . that we go through this process where we ask some different stakeholders to have someone come and join us at a meeting to discuss what the qualifications skill sets should be of a commissioner,” McAleer said.
She made it clear that the sitting commissioners “have 100 percent full authority” to make the appointment.
“We are managing this process,” she said. “We are the ones that will decide.”
Beauvais agreed.
“These are all public meetings, so we will take public comment,” she said.
“We can have interaction . . . but by law, we have to make a decision.”
McAleer also invited Hallett to sit in during the Feb. 18 meeting to offer his insight.
“I want to offer that to him if he is interested in joining us and being a part of that discussion,” she said.
Hallett cited the ethics of fellow commissioners as his reason for resigning.
At 9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 26, a special meeting will be held to choose finalists from the list of applicants.
The short list will be discussed in executive session, with a public vote held afterward.
Names announced
At that time, the finalists’ names will be publicly announced. The list of applicants not chosen will not be made public, port commissioners say.
Beginning March 4, candidate interviews will be initiated, with a potential public decision as to who will be appointed on that day.
If no decision is made, then a public decision and announcement is expected no later than a special meeting tentatively scheduled for March 11.
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Reporter Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
