PORT TOWNSEND — After a day of intensive interviews, the East Jefferson Fire Rescue board has narrowed a field of four finalists for the chief position to two, said Commissioners Chairman Rich Stapf Jr.
“We had a good day in the fact that we’ve got some really good candidates,” Stapf said Wednesday.
“That clearly came out. It is tougher this time because last time, we came out at the end of the day and didn’t have a choice.
“We have a couple of candidates we want to talk further with.”
The district — which serves Port Townsend, Cape George, Chimacum, Irondale, Kala Point, Marrowstone Island and Port Hadlock — has been without a permanent chief since former Chief Mike Mingee left in January to become the Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District chief in Santa Barbara County, Calif.
East Jefferson Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Chuck Boggs is serving as interim fire chief.
In May, four candidates were brought up for interviews, but the commissioners did not offer the position to any of them.
Not identified
Stapf said the board agreed not to release the names of the two finalists.
“We really need to talk to them a little more and see if we can come to terms,” Stapf said.
“It is still unclear if we can come to terms with one of them.
“What I hope happens is, within the next couple days, we come to terms with a candidate and have a contract that can come before the board, at minimum, at our next regular meeting.”
The board could call a special meeting or wait until the next board meeting Nov. 18 to make the decision to hire a new chief.
The four finalists were introduced to the public Tuesday night at Fire Station 1-5 on Critter Lane south of Port Townsend.
The candidates are:
• Merlin Halverson, fire chief/CEO with Snohomish County Fire District, a professional firefighter for 36 years and fire chief since 1998.
• Andrew Hail, deputy chief of Redmond Fire Department, where he has worked since 1979.
• Paul Stewart, division chief of Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue, where he has worked since 1980.
• Charles “Chuck” Tandy, fire chief of Washington City, Utah, Department of Public Safety since June 2006.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
