PORT ANGELES — Four finalists for Jim McEntire’s vacant Port of Port Angeles commission position were selected Wednesday from 12 applicants.
Port of Port Angeles Commissioners John Calhoun and Jim Hallett, who narrowed the field at a special meeting, will interview Sequim-area District 1 applicants Paul McHugh, Gerald Stiles, Sterling Epps and Shawn Hankins at the regular port meeting at 9:30 a.m. Monday at 338 W. First St. in the port meeting room.
The public can make statements about the finalists during the public comment period at the beginning of the meeting, Calhoun said.
The candidates will make brief presentations followed by an opportunity for Calhoun and Hallett to question the applicants.
The appointee, who must be selected by March 31, will be expected to fill out McEntire’s six-year term, which expires in 2013.
McHugh is a retired real estate broker and former Sequim City Council member.
Stiles is a retired aeronautical engineer and serves on the executive committee of the Clallam County Republican Party.
Hankins is a Port Angeles chiropractor and a Port Angeles High School graduate.
Epps is a cold-case investigator for the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office and Port Angeles Police Department.
Among 10 references on his application, Stiles listed McEntire, Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict and Port Angeles City Manager Kent Myers.
Among five references, Epps listed Port Angeles Police Chief Terry Gallagher.
McHugh and Hankins did not list references.
“I was looking for life experiences that would indicate they could maturely perform the duties of commissioner,” said Calhoun, commission president. “I was looking for candidates who had a strong orientation toward economic development of the port and creating jobs.”
The port did not release the names of other candidates on advice from port lawyer Dave Neupert that the names did not have to be disclosed, Calhoun said.
Calhoun and Hallett on Wednesday chose the finalists from a list of 12 candidates who had met with Calhoun.
Neupert mailed Hallett the candidates’ applications in December with each candidate assigned a letter of the alphabet, Calhoun said.
At Wednesday’s public meeting Calhoun and Hallett chose four lettered candidates, three of whom were chosen by both commissioners.
“I had four candidates who clearly stood out,” Calhoun said. “I withdrew one [Hallett] didn’t have on his list.”
So Calhoun decided on candidates D, F, J and K.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-417-3536 or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.