PORT TOWNSEND — A retirement party for Jefferson County Auditor Donna Eldridge filled a conference room with about 30 people on hand to send her off after 20 years of service.
Eldridge, 63, retired after serving as county auditor for five terms.
“Working with Donna has always been a pleasure,” said former Assessor Jack Westerman III, who retired one year ago after 35 years on the job, at Friday’s party.
“No one worked harder, although I couldn’t help myself and tried to tell her what to do a few times,” he added.
Eldridge’s retirement was the third blow to the county’s institutional memory in 2014.
Westerman, first elected in 1978, left office Jan. 1 saying he wanted to provide a smoother transition to a new property valuation system.
Treasurer Judi Morris retired in June after nearly four terms.
Eldridge’s successor, Rose Ann Carroll, will be sworn in at noon Jan. 2 in Jefferson County Superior Court, 1820 Jefferson St., along with Assessor Jeff Chapman, who was named as Westerman’s replacement and who ran unopposed Nov. 4, and Treasurer Stacie Hoskins, who also ran unopposed.
Also sworn in will be new officeholders County Commissioner Kathleen Kler, Sheriff David Stanko and Prosecuting Attorney Michael Haas.
Incumbents to be sworn in are District Court Judge Jill Landes and Superior Court Clerk Ruth Gordon, both elected to third terms in the November general election.
Eldridge will be remembered for her tenacity and sense of humor, well-wishers said.
“People trusted Donna with a lot of things, and she took that seriously,” said Glen Huntingford, who served as a county commissioner from 1992 to 2004 and was in office when Eldridge first became auditor in 1994.
“If there was something she didn’t know, you could count on her to find the answer and get back to somebody,” Huntingford said.
“She treated everyone the same and did whatever she could to help them.”
Eldridge recalled getting a call from Huntingford when she was first elected saying, “Donna, it’s your boss.”
Eldridge’s answer was swift: “Look who signs your paycheck.”
She said she expected to serve only one term but stayed on “because it was such fun.”
Eldridge said she looks forward to “an exciting life” caring for her grandchildren and taking trips to Hawaii.
As is county tradition, Eldridge received a hockey puck inscribed with her name and years of service.
Commissioner John Austin, who is also retiring this week, said the public will not necessarily see a difference in service from county agencies, even with six new officeholders.
In all cases, the staff will guide the newly elected official until he or she finds footing, he said.
“Each of the independent elected officials manage their own department and will make changes in the way their departments are doing their work,” said County Administrator Philip Morley.
“They still have to follow statutory guidelines, but they will bring fresh perspective and new ideas as to how things happen in county government,” he added.
Morley has met privately with all the new electeds “so I can understand what they are interested in and offer the county’s resources in order for them to receive their goals.”
A send-off for Austin is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Monday in commissioners’ chambers at the Jefferson County Courthouse, 1820 Jefferson St.
The public is invited.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
