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Ferries director in running for new jobSEATTLE, Dec 11, 2012 (Kitsap Sun - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Washington State Ferries Director David Moseley is one of three finalists to be executive director of South Sound 911, a new Pierce County emergency communications agency. Also still in the running, out of 32 candidates, are Lakewood City Manager Andrew Neiditz and Jack Harper II, the city manager of Hillsboro, Texas. The selection process has been going since Aug. 24, when applications were due. A search committee will recommend one of the three. A combined operations board of police, fire and dispatch leaders is scheduled to vote on the recommendation at a public meeting Friday morning. The selection must be confirmed Dec. 19 by a policy board comprising nine elected officials representing member agencies and contracting cities and towns. The salary range is $175,000 to $205,000, said Jim Sharp, South Sound 911 project manager. Moseley makes about $143,000 with the ferries. Pierce County voters approved a small sales tax increase in November 2011 to create South Sound 911. The new agency is replacing a patchwork of incompatible radio systems and independent dispatch centers with a state-of-the-art system that enables all first responders to communicate directly with one another. The project won't be completed until late 2014, but Sharp said he expects the director will probably report in February. Member agencies are Pierce County, the cities of Tacoma, Lakewood and Fife, and West Pierce Fire and Rescue. A reception for the finalists was held Monday night in Tacoma. Final interviews were conducted Tuesday. "I think we've got a great group of candidates," Sharp said. "I'm excited about the group we were able to narrow it down to. They have good, strong leadership backgrounds and each one has very diverse experiences. They bring a whole lot to the table." Moseley, 65, took over Washington State Ferries in February 2008, appointed by Gov. Chris Gregoire. Before that, he worked as city manager of Federal Way and Ellensburg, Steilacoom's town administrator and Seattle's director of community development. Moseley said he applied for the ferries job for the challenges, and it hasn't disappointed. It has been a fight every year to get funding from the Legislature to preserve service. He has consistently pushed for a sustainable funding source, to no avail. He has had to cut costs and raise fares, upsetting workers and riders. The Legislature did, however, provide money for new boats. Under Moseley's watch, three have been built and two are under construction. The state hadn't built a new boat since 1999. ___ (c)2012 the Kitsap Sun (Bremerton, Wash.) Visit the Kitsap Sun (Bremerton, Wash.) at www.kitsapsun.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |