PORT ANGELES — Jim Jones, director of business and operations for Port Angeles schools, will become Clallam County government’s top executive June 13.
Clallam County commissioners on Monday unanimously chose Jones, 52, to be county administrator, preferring his familiarity with the region, its people and its issues to other candidates’ government administrative experience.
For his part, Jones said, “I’m really honored to have been selected out of so many strong applicants.”
Thirteen people applied for the job, and a screening committee proposed three finalists: Edward Williams, former administrator of Reno County, Kan.; Richard Nelson, city administrator of North Ogden, Utah; and Jones.
Commissioners dropped Williams from consideration soon after interviewing him.
As for choosing Jones over Nelson, Commissioner Mike Chapman, R-Port Angeles, cited Jones’ “clear long-term commitment to the community.”
Jones also need not learn the territory, Chapman said.
“A local individual may be able to hit the ground running,” he said.
Commissioners Steve Tharinger, D-Dungeness, and Mike Doherty, D-Port Angeles, agreed.
Doherty said it wouldn’t take Jones “months and months or a year to learn” the contours of the county’s political landscape.
“The local knowledge will be helpful,” Tharinger added.
All three commissioners said Clallam County’s system of government — three full-time legislators with an appointed administrator — did not call for a strong executive with political power.
Later, Jones told Peninsula Daily News his desire to stay in Clallam County has led him to turn down earlier job offers from outside the North Olympic Peninsula.
Jones will be paid $93,939 a year, with an annual step raise and a cost-of-living adjustment. He currently makes about $98,000 annually with the school district.
Current County Administrator Dan Engelbertson, who will retire June 30, earns $90,278 a year.