OSO — Syd Nerland, a longtime commissioner, got an urgent call from a secretary for the department last week.
He’d missed the deadline to apply for his spot in Fire District 25.
And the extended deadline was hours away, too.
Nerland’s position was one of five in Snohomish County that received no candidates in the initial filing period that ended in May, prompting the county to reopen the positions for three days last week. This is far from unheard of during odd-year elections, county Elections Administrator Matthew Pangburn said in an email.
In fact, he said, it’s common to have a special three-day filing period in small jurisdiction, like Fire District 25, where “there are fewer residents eligible to run.”
Nerland has held the position, which covers Oso, for over 15 years. Fire commissioners have six-year terms. He hadn’t realized his was up. The spot isn’t exactly a hotly contested position.
“Part of it is that nobody else applied for it. There’s never a contested election for commissioner here at the Fire District,” Nerland said. “It’s a pretty small district, we have a pretty small budget. It’s a thing I do for the community.”
Nerland fired up his computer and applied for the position online, finishing before the deadline. Running unopposed, he’ll serve another six years. Part of the problem, he said, is lack of interest in the position — occasionally to fill a commissioner position, they have to go out and recruit people for the job.
Fire District 25 is an all-volunteer force, Nerland said.
“When I retire, someone else will spring up from the community,” Nerland said.
Snohomish County reopened applications for fire commissioner positions in District 10, 25 and 26, as well as two seats on the East County Park and Recreation District from Aug. 2 to Aug. 4.
All three fire districts got applicants. Scott Kim will run unopposed for District 10, north of Bothell, and Nerland has District 25 sewn up once again.
District 26, also known as Sky Valley Fire, will now be a showdown between Jason Lavinsky and Jose Vargas. Both would be newcomers.
These are nonpartisan positions, Nerland said, and their purpose is to provide civilian oversight of the fire departments. They approve grants and have to be careful with funding — there are not a whole lot of taxpayers in his district.
Nerland said commissioners meet once a month for about an hour, though they do occasionally have meetings more frequently.
“Commissioners approve payment of the invoices and things like that,” Nerland said. “It’s not a very big job.”
The East County Park and Recreation District was formed in 1970 and its boundaries are about the same as the Monroe School District footprint. One of the park district’s biggest responsibilities is managing the ball fields and other athletic offerings at Maltby Community Park.
The East County Park and Recreation District did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Positions 4 and 5 are open for that district and are four-year terms. No one filed to run last week.
If no one files, the incumbents keep serving, Pangburn said. If the current incumbent can no longer serve, the district appoints someone to fill the seat until the position is on the ballot again.
The district has not been without controversy. In 2015, it received a letter from the state auditor’s office for failing to file annual reports on time and issues with its bank accounts.
In 2019, voters shot down a proposed levy measure, but approved bonds for the district.
Correction Aug. 10, 2023: An earlier version of this story misidentified the park overseen by the East County Park and Recreation District.
Jordan Hansen: 425-339-3046; jordan.hansen@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @jordyhansen.
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