PORT TOWNSEND — Nancy Borino, city marketing coordinator for six years, will not seek renewal of her annual contract, citing marketing strategy differences with city officials.
Borino’s decision follows a city of Port Townsend “request for proposals,” which opened Borino’s position to other applicants seeking the 2005 marketing contract.
Borino last month said she intended to reapply, but changed her mind this week because she found the city’s expectations of a marketing director to be different from her “interpretation of the industry.”
“(In October) the (request for proposals) was not out yet,” she told Peninsula Daily News on Tuesday, “and when I looked through them, I realized that the description does not match my strength.
“As I have said before, it has always been my pleasure of working for the city,” she said.
“However, the city made a decision to go in a different direction, and I wish them the best in moving forward with this.”
Borino declined to elaborate on that direction, and City Manager David Timmons was unavailable for comment Tuesday.
Borino, who also owns a Port Townsend-based marketing company, Hera and Associates, said she is seeking other opportunities.
“I was surprised with her decision,” said City Councilwoman Laurie Medlicott, who chairs the city’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, or LTAC, which works with the marketing coordinator to promote tourism in Port Townsend.
“It’s not possible to tell if Nancy’s decision could leave the LTAC better, worse or the same as before, but I would reiterate my previous statement about Nancy’s brilliant marketing skills.”
The Lodging Tax Advisory Board advises the City Council on spending lodging tax dollars for promotion and tourism.