Two apply for Johnson’s seat
By ELAINE WILLIAMS of the Tribune
A farmer and the president of Lohman Helicopter have applied for a seat on the Lewiston Port Commission that Dan Johnson is vacating at the end of the month.
Robert Branson and Morgan Lohman have submitted letters of interest for the position. Branson farms in the Nezperce area. Lohman will be moving his 10-employee, three-helicopter business from Kendrick and Clarkston to the port in 2013.
The deadline to apply for the commissioner position is Dec. 21. The port is accepting letters of interest via email at [email protected] or through the mail at Port of Lewiston, Port Commission, 1626 Sixth Ave. North, Lewiston, ID 83501.
Johnson’s successor would have to be a registered voter and reside within the boundaries of Port District No. 1, which includes Normal Hill, the Elks Addition and a portion of rural Nez Perce County north of the Clearwater River.
The other two port commissioners have 30 days after Johnson’s departure to pick his replacement. They plan to meet Jan. 2 to review the letters and haven’t made a decision about what other steps they may take to learn about the applicants.
The commissioners’ appointee will hold the seat until the next election for port commission in 2014. The winner of that election will serve two years, completing what would have been a six-year term for Johnson. Johnson announced his resignation last month after winning election to the Idaho Senate seat he was appointed to last year.
The position pays $50 for any day the commissioners conduct business on behalf of the port, regardless of how much time it takes. The port has budgeted $10,000 for commissioner pay this fiscal year. The amount includes $3,500 for the president and $3,250 each for the other two commissioners.
Beyond that, the port pays 10.23 percent of the dollar amount each commissioner earns into the Public Retirement System of Idaho (PERSI). Lewiston’s port commissioners don’t receive health insurance through the port.
Williams may be contacted at
[email protected] or (208) 848-2261.
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