PORT ANGELES — Rob Robertsen will seek re-election in November as Clallam County director of community development.
The nation’s first elected county development director, he said he wants to be the last.
Voters made the post an elected one in 2002, and Robertsen won a 2003 election over Bob Martin, who had held the job by appointment.
As Robertsen enters his fourth year, however, he thinks the position should be an appointed one again.
“When the charter review commission meets in 2007,” Robertsen said Thursday, “they need to revert to an appointed DCD director, not an appointed one.”
He cited the need for technical expertise in the position.
Robertsen came to the job with long experience as a building official and fire marshal. He retired from the development department in 2000.
“It would be too easy for someone to get in there without the background,” he said.
“It could put the county into a very precarious position.
“One wrong decision, and you’re up against the wall.”
Robertsen’s department deals with issues ranging from fire codes to salmon recovery and must follow local, state and federal regulations.
“I would say by far it is the most complex department of the county,” he said.
“There are myriad decisions to deal with. Make one mistake, and you’ve got a lawsuit.
“We have lawsuits come up as it is.”