By Pat Jenkins The Dispatch With the blessing of voters, Graham Fire and Rescue is finding out who wants to be on its soon-to-expand board of commissioners. The district is accepting applications for two appointments that will raise the number of commissioners from the current three to five. Voters in the district approved the increase in the general election that ended Nov. 8. Nov. 28 is the deadline for submitting applications in the form of a letter to district secretary Tony Judd at Graham Fire and Rescue, 23014 70th Ave E., Graham, WA 98338. District officials said applicants should include their address, explanations of any previous experience in elected office, professional experience and community service, and a statement of why they’re interested. The current commissioners plan to hold a meeting in December to interview applicants and make appointments. The new commissioners will begin serving immediately. Their seats, which carry six-year terms, will be up for election next fall. The commissioners hold two regular business meetings each month and sometimes attend other meetings, for which they are paid $114 per day. Their maximum yearly compensation for district duties is $10,944. Prospective applicants can call the district at 253-847-8811 for more information. Although election results won’t be official until next week, the ballot measure asking for more fire commissioners was passing easily with about 59 percent of the votes in its favor. Approval requires a simple majority. The proposal was put on the ballot by the current commissioners with a goal of increasing the elected representation of citizens in the operations of the fire district. The approximately 60,000 people living in the district would be better-served by having more commissioners to oversee the district’s compliance with state and federal regulations for fire protection and emergency medical services, according to the proposal’s supporters. The Graham district has had three commissioners since it was formed in 1963. Most nearby fire districts have at least five commissioners.
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