New Port of C-W Commissioner is appointed

The former city administrator of North Bonneville has been selected to serve as the next Port of Camas-Washougal Commissioner.

John Spencer was appointed Sept. 22, by Port Commissioners Bill Macrae-Smith and Bill Ward.

“I am honored and committed to doing something good with it,” Spencer said after the commission meeting.

He and five other candidates were interviewed for the District 1 seat by Macrae-Smith, Ward and Port Executive Director David Ripp during a special meeting Sept. 15.

The other candidates were Mike Briggs, Nicholas Brown, Lauren Colas, Mark Forbes and Paul Greenlee.

“It was not as easy as I thought it would be,” Macrae-Smith said, regarding the selection process. “We had some really good applicants.”

Barry Sullivan and Kelly Orfield withdrew their names from consideration prior to Sept. 15.

Ward mentioned good judgement and relevant knowledge as two of Spencer’s qualities.

“All of the candidates brought something of high value,” Ward said.

“I hope your interest in the port will remain high, and you will remain active in helping us to move forward,” he said to the individuals who were not appointed.

Spencer, who is expected to finish Mark Lampton’s term, through Dec. 31, 2017, said he is not sure if he will seek election to the District 1 seat in two years.

Lampton died Aug. 3.

His widow, Charlene, congratulated Spencer after the appointment.

“I told John that I thought he would be good, and Mark would be happy,” she said later.

Spencer, a management consultant with Pulse Consulting, LLC, of Camas, is a member of the Clark County Parks Advisory Board. He served as city administrator of North Bonneville, from 2010 to 2013.

North Bonneville had a contract with Pulse Consulting, that involved Spencer doing the initial analysis to help the city evaluate the pros and cons of opening a marijuana store.

Spencer said he and an attorney did much of the work to create the North Bonneville Public Development Authority.

Under a subsequent contract with the NBPDA, Spencer wrote a business plan, made financial projections and applied for a recreational marijuana store license on North Bonneville’s behalf. He also negotiated a lease, obtained a contractor to remodel the building, obtained financing and wrote finance, personnel and operating policies.

“I guided the board through the licensing process and helped hire the store manager,” Spencer said.

He will take the oath of office during the Tuesday, Oct. 6, port commission meeting, at 5 p.m., in the port office meeting room, 24 S. “A” St., Washougal.