FORKS — Kevin Hinchen, a lifetime resident of Forks, is the new Forks City Council member.
Hinchen, 54, replaces Bryon Monohon, who was elected mayor in November after serving six years as a council member and took office this month.
Hinchen has worked at Forks Outfitters for the past 13 years and managed the sporting goods section for the last three or four years.
He was appointed and sworn in at the Forks City Council meeting on Monday.
He joined council members Mike Breidenbach, Gus Wallerstedt, Bruce Guckenberg and John Hillcar.
Hinchen said he applied for the position because he wanted to be more involved in the community.
“You can only sit back and watch so long,” he said. “I love Forks, and I’ve lived here my whole life.
“I love this community and want to do whatever I can for it.”
Hinchen began working at his family’s shake and shingle mill in Forks after graduating from Forks High School in 1973. He worked there until 1993.
In addition to working at the Outfitters, Hinchen is also a volunteer on the Forks Ambulance Corps. He recently passed an intermediate life support course.
Hinchen said he raised both of his children, Arista, 20, and Sam, 26, in Forks.
Other applicants for the City Council seat were Juanita Weissenfels, a former employee of the Quillayute Valley School District; Albert Huggins, who works for the Department of Natural Resources; and Tom Scott, who unsuccessfully run against council member Hillcar in November.
Forks has a “strong mayor” form of government in which the mayor acts as a city manager and has hiring and firing power.
All City Council positions — as well as the mayor position — are unpaid.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladaily news.com.
