PORT ANGELES — Clallam County Commissioner Jim McEntire has applied for a seat on the influential state Board of Natural Resources for the second time since 2012.
The Washington State Association of Counties is asking timber counties to pick either McEntire or Pacific County Commissioner Frank Wolfe to serve on the board that sets policies that guide how the state Department of Natural Resources manages its lands and resources.
McEntire, a third-year county commissioner and former Port of Port Angeles commissioner, tried unsuccessfully to land a seat on the same six-member panel in May 2012.
Timber counties then selected Lewis County Commissioner Lee Grose to fill a vacant seat.
In his 2014 nomination letter to the county association, McEntire touted his experience with the port, saying the district has had a “large line of business for decades in support of Clallam County’s forest products industries.”
County and state timberlands provide “vital revenue to sustain government functions” at the state and local level, he added.
“What I will bring to this board, if I’m honored to serve you in this capacity, is a focus on the best net return on assets possible, consistent with predictable revenue,” McEntire wrote.
Commissioners discussed their vote in a work session Monday. They decided to pull the item off today’s consent agenda, as each commissioner will vote independently.
County commissioners can cast individual ballots or vote as a collective board.
“For the record, I voted for my colleague,” Commissioner Mike Chapman said.
“I think I’ll vote for myself as well,” McEntire said.
Commissioner Mike Doherty did not reveal who he would vote for.
Meanwhile, commissioners Monday also discussed a $125,000 Drug Free Communities grant from the federal Office of National Drug Control Policy to support the Port Angeles Healthy Youth Coalition for a fifth year.
Leeann Grasseth, county prevention specialist and grant coordinator, said the coalition will use the funds to continue its “Be the Wall” social norms campaign.
“We’re going to be focusing more on marijuana and reduction of perception of harm,” Grasseth said.
“We’ve had reductions since the inception of Drug Free Communities in 1997, but just recently we have an increase in the number of youth that do not think marijuana is harmful, as well as use among our youth.
“And obviously, this is coupled with the fact that we have legalization, but it’s across the nation, not just in Washington and Colorado, that we’re having these issues.”
Washington and Colorado have legalized the recreational use of marijuana for adults 21 and older.
The Port Angeles Healthy Youth Coalition’s mission is to support youth to make “safe, sober and strong choices.”
It works with youth to change social norms and helps teachers and parents recognize drug and alcohol use.
“We’ve done a lot, and this year we’re planning to do more,” Grasseth said.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.