Finalists eyed for Jefferson planning post

Published 12:01 am Friday, March 9, 2012

PORT TOWNSEND — Two finalists hoping to fill the Jefferson County director of the Department of Community Development post vacated by Al Scalf will be interviewed today.

The finalists, chosen from a field of 28 candidates for the position, which oversees long-range planning, community development, permitting, customer assistance and code enforcement activities, are Carl Smith of Quilcene, who is now lands manager for a native village corporation in Alaska, and Josh Peters of Port Townsend, who is now principal transportation planner for Jefferson County Public Works.

The two will participate in several interviews, which will not be open to the public, County Administrator Philip Morley said.

Scalf retired at age 62 in November after 26 years with the county, the past 16 as its top planning officer.

Serving as interim director is DCD Planning Manager Stacie Hoskins, who did not apply for the permanent position

A panel of community representatives — as well as Morley and Erin Lundgren, clerk of the Jefferson County commissioners and the county’s human resource manager — will interview the finalists.

The community representatives are from the Jefferson County Association of Realtors, the Jefferson County Home Builders Association, the Olympic Environmental Council, the Jefferson County Conservation District, the Olympic Stewardship Foundation, Team Jefferson, the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, the North Hood Canal Chamber of Commerce and the county Planning Commission.

Morley will select the leading candidate, and county commissioners will interview him before considering approval.

No time line is in place for the hiring.

Finalists’ background

Both finalists have been certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners.

Smith, who now manages lands for Paug-Vik, a native village corporation in Naknek, Alaska, was planning director for Bristol Bay Borough, Alaska.

He also held a management position with the Port of Tacoma and directed planning and permitting departments for the cities of Fife, Woodinville and Mountlake Terrace.

He has a master’s degree in environmental planning and a bachelor’s degree in biological science, and is an LEED-accredited professional.

Peters, who was senior planner and long-range planning lead with the Department of Community Development, co-chairs the legislative committee of the Washington state chapter of the American Planning Association and is an immediate past president of the Peninsula section of the group.

He has growth management experience with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and was a Peace Corps volunteer in Honduras.

He has a master’s degree in community and regional planning/environmental planning and a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies, as well as Charrette planner certification.