County now searching for Port of Dewatto candidate

Kirk Boxleitner | Jul 27, 20230

As of Wednesday, the Port of Dewatto has not filled the vacancy on its three-member board of commissioners, left open by the April 8 death of Ray Mow.

The port is still running ads in the Shelton-Mason County Journal to solicit applicants for the port’s District 2 Commissioner position. Acting Port Commission Chair Dave Haugen has asked Kris Tompkins, the port’s volunteer who lives in the Haven Lake area, to provide any updates she on anyone who might be interested in filling the position.

Tompkins told Haugen she’d made an announcement at the Haven Lake Property Owners’ Association meeting over the Memorial Day weekend asking anyone who might be interested in the position to come talk to her after the meeting. She said no one spoke with her on the matter.

Haugen reminded his fellow attendees at the port’s June 14 meeting that the port only had three weeks left to appoint someone.

Port Manager Jeana Crosby contacted Mason County officials shortly after that meeting to determine what the port would need to do if it could not find a replacement within that window.

In such cases, the port has 90 days from the start of the position’s vacancy. If no one is appointed during that time, the county is then tasked with appointing a port commissioner.

As Crosby had previously noted, Mason County Commissioner Randy Neatherlin was aware of the port’s circumstances and had encouraged port officials to contact him if they found themselves in need of assistance.

Per Haugen’s suggestions, Crosby also contacted the port’s legal counsel and the Washington Public Ports Association after the June 14 meeting, while Haugen also agreed to cover Port Commissioner Ted Edwards’ registration and overnight lodging fees to take part in a port commissioner seminar at the Alderbrook Resort & Spa in Union. Crosby also contacted Enduris to arrange the removal of Mow from the port’s insurance binder.

Crosby told the Journal on July 13 that not only had the vacancy remained unfilled, but “our 90 days are now extended to the county.”

The port is continuing to offer the position to residents of Mow’s district, which includes Haven Lake, Wooten Lake and surrounding areas.

“After the additional 90 days allotted to the county, we will have to ask the governor to appoint someone to the position,” Crosby said. “At this point, even if we do finally get someone who is interested, they will no longer be able to be appointed by our commission, but will instead be appointed by the county or by the governor if it’s after the county’s 90 day window has expired.”

Crosby encouraged any registered voters who live in District 2 and are interested in the position to call her at the Port of Dewatto offices at 360-372-2695.