By Pepper Fisher
PORT ANGELES – A fourth candidate has filed to run for the position of Director of the Department of Community Development in Clallam County.
Bruce Emery worked in the planning division of that very department for 14 years, beginning in 1993, eventually becoming Senior Planner and training much of the current staff.
In 2007 he joined North Pointe Construction (formerly Green Crow Investments), as a project manager, where he designs and manages construction projects, legal document review and development, and permit processing.
In 2012 Emery received an MBA, which he says provided high level training in organizational behavior, conflict resolution and team-building as well as budgeting and project management.
We asked him why he wants to be the next Director of the DCD.
“I see a need. I see a need for balanced, fair, experienced leadership at the County in the DCD Department to re-establish the working relationship with the Board of Directors, to re-establish leadership in the department itself, to re-establish fair, but consistent code enforcement, and so forth.”
One very important job coming up for the next DCD Director is the Comprehensive Plan update, due in the summer of 2025. It’s a heavy lift for any staff, but Emery says he will also put a lot of consideration into gathering public input.
“It’s very important. I was actually with the County in ’95 when it went through the first round of comprehensive planning and code updates, and we had pretty extensive community meetings. We basically divided the county up into separate regions and we would hold meetings in those neighborhoods. I wouldn’t say that that process was perfect, but it was good in the sense that it did reach out, it did give people an opportunity to chime in.”
Another high priority for Emery will be fixing the Code Enforcement division.
“We know what works. And getting this to work properly is going to take some training and support. Code enforcement is a tough enough job as it is, to not have the full and unabashed support of the Director in the department. So, the more we can do to provide that support, to give them the resources they need, that to me is the target. That to me is the plan.”
Emery will face candidates Cherie Kidd, Jesse Major and Kevin Russell for the job.
“Unlike the other candidates for this position, I have literally worked on both sides of the counter. I’ve been the Planner. And then, being on this side of the counter, I’ve processed subdivisions on behalf of my employer. So, I’m very aware of the impact the process has on the local building community and business community, and I think that is the most powerful and unique characteristic that I will bring to this job.”