Montesano’s Ken Albert has been appointed as Grays Harbor County Treasurer.

Three nominees were submitted by the Grays Harbor County Democratic Party to the county commissioners. Albert was recommended by the party’s central committee. Ultimately, the commissioners agreed and selected Albert.

“As far as the candidates go… all three had qualifications that would have been great. All three are great people. But there was a clear difference in the person we chose with his experience and qualifications,” Commissioner and Chairwoman Vickie Raines said on Nov. 7. “His experience was better suited for the position, and we think that (Albert) will do a great job for Grays Harbor County and for that department.”

Former treasurer Ron Strabbing retired on Nov. 1. His last day in office was Oct. 31. State statute dictates that an appointment to Strabbing’s position (a partisan position) must be from the same political party. The Grays Harbor County Democratic Party could not act on finding a replacement until after the position was vacated.

Strabbing most recently was re-elected to his position in 2014 (Strabbing had held the position for 35 years). Albert’s appointment temporarily fills the vacancy left by Strabbing’s retirement. Contrary to a previous story, Albert will have to run for election in 2017 to fill out the term which ends in 2018. In 2018, Albert will have to run for re-election for a new four-year term. He was sworn into office during the commissioners’ evening meeting.

Albert lives in Montesano. He retired from the U.S. Army in 1995. He is currently the vice president store manager for Umpqua Bank in Montesano. He has a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing from St. Martin’s College in Lacey.

Albert is chairman for Gray Harbor Ducks Unlimited, Coastal Community Action, and the City of Montesano Planning Commission. He is president of Montesano Community Outreach. He is on the executive board of the YMCA in Hoquiam. Albert is a past president of the Rotary Club of East Grays Harbor County – Centennial, and Montesano Chamber of Commerce.

Two other nominees applied for the appointment — Steven Puvogel of Hoquiam and Bob Weaver of Aberdeen.

Puvogel recently moved to Hoquiam. He had lived in Aberdeen since 2005. He currently is a data and research analyst at the budget office of the Washington Department of Enterprise Services in Olympia. He also owns Events on Emerson, an event venue in Hoquiam. Puvogel holds a bachelor’s degree in business — IT management from Western Governors University—Washington. He is active with the Grays Harbor Democrats and Harbor Humanists.

Bob Weaver of Aberdeen has experience as a treasurer for various organizations.