POULSBO — Former Port of Poulsbo Commission President Mike Winters had never been to a port meeting and didn’t own a boat when he applied for his position.

But that’s not true of his replacement.

Arnold Bockus of Poulsbo was named the newest member of the port commission Thursday night. A user of the port since moving here in 1999, Bockus said giving back to the state agency was what motivated him to apply for the position.

“I’m a boater and I’m down here every day,” he commented. “The job came up and I thought it would be interesting.”

Bockus replaces Winters, who had served on the commission since 1998. He resigned his seat at the end of 2004 after about 25 years of holding public office in Poulsbo.

About nine applications were received for the vacancy and reviewed by Commissioners Tony DeCarlo and Glenn Gilbert in late January. Interviews were held at a public session Feb. 1 and Bockus was appointed and took his oath of office Feb. 3.

The newest commissioner moved to Poulsbo from Connecticut in 1999. Bockus retired from the police service there in 1991 and then worked for several years as director of security in facility services for a small college.

His wife Charlotte works as a secretary.

Besides occasionally attending Port of Poulsbo meetings, Bockus was also a member of the committee that drafted a new Comprehensive Plan for the port in 2003. He said he was ready to begin his term but admitted that he didn’t have any particular agendas he was interested in furthering as a commissioner.

“I think, right now, this is going to be a little bit of a learning curve for me,” Bockus explained. “I plan to just sit back and listen and learn before I make any decisions as to what I want to do.”

Bockus will hold the position for one year before being required to run for re-election in the unexpired term in order to stay in office.