Indecision 2012: Port of Bellingham commissioners delay executive director choice

Written by John Stark | The Bellingham Herald | November 6, 2012

By John Stark

Port of Bellingham Commissioners have postponed the selection of a new executive director to replace Charlie Sheldon, who departed in April 2012.

When the agenda for the Tuesday, Nov. 6 port commission meeting was first released, the executive director decision was listed as a “work session update” item, meaning no action would be taken. Then the port staff issued a revised agenda listing the matter as an “action item.”

But Commission President Scott Walker said Tuesday that the selection process is taking longer than he had anticipated. He announced that commissioners will take up the matter again in an executive session scheduled for Friday, Nov. 9, but he said there is no guarantee that commissioners will be ready to make a choice following that session.

The position has a salary range of $130,000 to $155,000. Port Chief Financial Officer Rob Fix has been interim director since Sheldon’s ouster.

The three finalists for the position spoke Monday, Oct. 29 at a community reception.  They are:

Les Reardanz, a former Bellingham assistant city attorney who is now chief administrative officer at the Port of Everett. Before taking the Everett job, Reardanz played a key role in negotiations between the city and the port over waterfront redevelopment and held the title of waterfront project manager. He is a captain in the U.S. Navy Reserve who has served in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Jonathan Daniels, executive director for the Port of Oswego, N.Y., since 2007. He also has had positions with the Eastern Maine Development Corp.; the city of Bangor; the Port of Greater Baton Rouge, La.; and the Eastport (Maine) Port Authority.

William Panos, public works and port director for the city of West Sacramento, Calif., since 2007. He also has held positions with the Washington state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction; the city of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; Los Angeles Unified Schools; Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection; TRW Automotive Group and the California State University Chancellor’s Office.

Tags: Bellingham, Port of Bellingham, Whatcom