At the Poulsbo Port District meeting Feb. 2, I observed Chairman Antonio DeCarlo stonewalling our newly elected commissioner, James Rutledge, because he wants to ensure posted commissioner, Arnold Bockus, was selected and seated legally. James proved with state statutes that a person cannot vote themselves into a paid posting/reposting. A single commissioner cannot select someone for an elective but open posting.

It was acknowledged by Chairman DeCarlo that he and Bockus, as the only seated commissioners in December 2011, selected and posted Bockus in the open seat. There were two correct ways to handle the situation: 1) have the county fill the open seat, 2) wait until Jan. 1 when Commissioner Rutledge was sworn in.

Obviously the flim-flam to maintain Arnold Bockus seated as port commissioner is illegal or suspect at best. Though Commissioner Rutledge was sneered at by his peers and 80 percent of the consituents at the meeting, he carried himself professionally and calmly, with excellent documentation and references to state and county laws as was appropriate.

The Port of Poulsbo Commission needs to resolve their personal issues and seat a candidate or Mr. Bockus legally. Multiple residents of the port and constituents spoke up for Mr. Bockus’ previous time as port commissioner, and I was impressed with many of his accomplishments. I hope the next port meetings show us a resolution to this derisive issue without going to court, so important port control issues can be moved forward.

Ron Savage
Poulsbo