The Port of Bremerton Board of Commissioners announced Thursday that is seeking a Chief Executive Officer to replace Ken Attebery, who stepped down at the end of last year.

Board President Cheryl Kincer said she and her fellow commissioners will advertise statewide for candidates to fill the position, which had a salary last year of more than $120,000.

“We will be advertising in the four major markets in the state as well as the Kitsap area,” Kincer said.

The Port of Bremerton is a special purpose district, tasked under state law to “promote economic development, to facilitate job creation, to provide for aviation and marine transportation, and to promote tourism.”

The CEO is expected to “implement the mission, policy, and strategic goals of the Port of Bremerton” that are set by the board, and part of the position’s main functions are keeping the board “fully informed on the Port’s operations, business transactions, and community roles and on matters affecting these activities” and serving as a liaison between board members and the port staff.

The full list of duties, expectations and ideal candidate qualifications is posted at www.portofbremerton.org

Commissioner Bill Mahan said that board already had received interest from candidates, and “I think we will have a high number of qualified applicants to choose from.”

Commissioner Larry Stokes added that he felt it was important to hire someone for the position that had experience “in the private sector as well as the public sector.”

Chief Operating Officer Tim Thomson has been acting as interim CEO in Attebery’s absence, and Kincer said he will continue to do so as the board completes the process.

“Tim has been on the job since Jan. 1, and is providing the stability we need while we conduct our search,” she said.

According to the timeline posted by the port, the board expects to have a CEO selected by mid-April.