Port will appoint to fill Boone position

With the death of longtime Port Commissioner Dan Boone Thursday, March 2, the Port of Whitman County is now seeking a commissioner to fill the remainder of Boone’s term. The two remaining commissioners are expected to make the appointment.

Boone, 89, had served on the Port commission since 2000, and he was in the final year of his third six-year term. He also served two four-year terms as a county commissioner from 1980-1988.

At their regular monthly Port meeting the morning of Boone’s death, Port commissioners and staff made note of his passing in the minutes and observed a moment of silence.

“Thank you, and God bless you,” Chairman John Love said at the end of the moment of silence.

“It would have been nice for Dan to be able to finish out his time. He wasn’t planning to run again, and he looked forward to finishing it out,” Commissioner Tom Kammerzell told the Gazette later.

Port Executive Director Joe Poiré said the commission will now work to seek someone to fill the remainder of Boone’s term.

“They’re just going to get the word out there,” he said.

The appointee will serve for the remainder of the year. The Port seat will be up for a new six-year term on November’s ballot.

Filing for the Port seat will be open May 15.

The Port went through this same process in 2010 following the death of Bob Gronholz in April of that year. Don Cox was appointed to fill out the remainder of Gronholz’s term, and Kammerzell announced his intention to run for the seat in 2011. Cox did not file for the position, and Kammerzell was elected.

“I went for the appointment, and then Don Cox decided not to run again, so I ran in the next election,” said Kammerzell.

According to state law, the Port has 90 days to fill the position before the task of filling it would fall to the Whitman County Commissioners. If it gets to that, the county commissioners would have 90 days to make the appointment. If they do not make the appointment, it then falls to the governor.

“I can’t imagine it getting that far,” said Kammerzell.

Kammerzell said he and Love have not had a chance to talk about the appointment process with Boone’s death having occurred on the same day of the regularly-scheduled Port meeting last week. He said they will discuss it further at the next meeting scheduled for Thursday, March 23, at the Port of Whitman building on Mill Street in Colfax at 10 a.m.

Anyone wishing to apply for the seat should contact the Port office directly. Kammerzell advises applicants can determine if they reside in District Two by checking with the Whitman County Elections office. Applicants must come from District Two, which covers the southeastern portion of the county, including southern Pullman, Colton, Uniontown and out Highway 194 toward Boyer Park.

“It’s not as clear in Pullman, so if you’re in Pullman, check with the elections office,” Kammerzell advised.

Boone’s memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Friday, March 10, at the Emmanuel Baptist church in Pullman. For the full obituary, see page 4B.