SNOHOMISH — The death of a longtime fire commissioner has left an empty seat on the Snohomish County Fire District 4 board, potentially triggering another power struggle within the district.
Dr. John McClintock, a commissioner for 16 years, died Nov. 15 of lung cancer.
Commissioners Roger Portmann and Ray Brown began seeking a replacement for McClintock on Monday. A commissioner probably won’t be selected for the three-member board until January, Portmann said.
Brown retires in January, and his seat will be filled by Steve Towers, who was elected in a close race in November.
The district has a history of contentious elections due to the division between the district’s full-time firefighters and its nearly 80 volunteer firefighters. The two groups have struggled to work together.
All sides say they want a commissioner who knows the community well and can help mend the rift.
"My hope would be to find a candidate that both groups could support. We’re sick of politics being at the forefront of the district," said firefighter Jason Hodkinson, president of the district’s union. "These people are elected to represent the community, not our needs or the volunteers’ needs."
Portmann and Towers said they are hoping to find a qualified candidate from the city of Snohomish. The city was annexed into the district in November, although the city had previously contracted with the district for fire services. District 4 serves about 30,000 residents, and more than 8,000 live inside the city limits.
"It would be nice to have some representation from Snohomish on the board," Portmann said.
Towers agreed.
"I think looking for a neutral party is the best solution," he said.
Whoever is selected "will have big shoes to fill," District 4 Chief Bob Merritt said. "Dr. McClintock had a good feel for the pulse of the community and loved the fire service. He was very good to us over the years."
Reporter Katherine Schiffner: 425-339-3436 or
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