Jack Ng was appointed commissioner for the Port of South Whidbey’s district 1 seat Wednesday.

He was selected over two other candidates to represent the Freeland area at a special meeting. He replaces Dennis Gregoire, who moved to Everett.

“I’m honored,” said Ng, following the board’s vote.

Ng, who described himself as a businessman rather than a politician, said he has a lot to learn about the port and is eager to get started. Also, he’s looking forward to making a positive contribution, which is why he sought the position.

“To make the community better,” he said.

Ng was appointed by Commissioner Curt Gordon and Commissioner Ed Halloran. The two retired to executive session following a public interview process of all three candidates for about 30 minutes. They reopened the meeting with Gordon saying it was a difficult choice with three well-qualified candidates. He then asked for a motion.

“Based on the candidates’ responses to questions and their qualifications, our decision is Jack Ng,” Halloran responded.

Although the commissioners then voted on the appointment, their comments strongly indicated they’d already reached a consensus behind closed doors, which is a violation of the Open Public Meetings Act.

According to RCW 42.30.120, an agency can retire to executive sessions for very few reasons, largely for matters of real estate, litigation and “to evaluate qualifications” of candidates for public office or employment.

“However, any interview of such candidate and final action appointing a candidate to elective office shall be in a meeting open to the public,” the act says.

When asked about the decision after the meeting, Halloran said he understands the rules and used a poor choice of words. He also said that it’s hard to only discuss qualifications and not move toward a selection, despite efforts to keep the process open.

Gordon called Halloran’s comment a “faux pas” of words. The process has been open from the beginning, he said, and the final decision was made in open public session.

“It was just the way he stated it,” Gordon said.

“The process was totally open,” he added.

The other two candidates who applied for the seat were Wayne Morrison and Bill Criswell. Morrison is a private business owner and president of the Island County Economic Development Council. Criswell is the founder of a relief and development organization, Impact Teams International, and spent years working in locations around the world to “solve some of the world’s inequities,” according to a short bio he submitted to the port. He moved to Whidbey in 2002 and started a construction company with his son.

Each candidate was interviewed individually in open session; the other candidates were not allowed to be in the room. Each was asked a series of five questions, beginning with their reason for seeking the appointment.

“I want to see the growth of this community… I want to be a part of that and make this community better,” Ng said.

Many of his responses were brief, and to the point. He noted that he is “still learning what the port actually does” but said Freeland has lots of potential he’d like to help cultivate. He suggested support for creating a marina or expanded boating facilities in Holmes Harbor, and support for sewers in the commercial core.

Ng owns a chain of restaurants, one of which is located in Freeland. In fact, China City is above the port’s headquarters and the building is owned by Ng. He said he’s a “go-getter” and is eager to learn, traits that helped him turn “a hole-in-the-wall Chinese food restaurant into what it is now.”

“I like to see a dream and make it come true,” he said.

Finally, he was asked if he had the time to do the job. Ng said he’s in control of his own schedule, which means he’s in the position to make time. Working hard and doing a lot is something he’s used to, he said.

“I get bored if I don’t have anything to do,” Ng said, earning a round of chuckling throughout the room.

Ng was sworn in after the board’s vote. He reiterated that he had a lot to learn but was eager to roll up his sleeves and get to work. Gordon said two commissioners can’t meet together except in open session due to state public meeting laws, but that the port could schedule a few special meetings in the near future; there’s plenty to discuss and it’s a way of getting him up to speed quickly.

Gordon added that commissioners can be in the same room together as long as they don’t talk about port business.

Finally, the new commissioner was informed that he was now an employee and would have some paperwork to complete. Similarly, he was informed that each commissioner gets a $114 per diem for each meeting attended. It’s on a per day basis, however, meaning that two meetings in one day don’t count as double pay.

Ng asked if the commissioners would like to go upstairs and celebrate as friends. Gordon and Halloran said that was OK as long as district business would not be discussed. Halloran said later that they were successful in that regard.

“We shot the breeze, had a drink and went home,” Halloran said.

He added that he was embarrassed and frustrated about his choice of words regarding the motion. He maintained that qualifications were discussed in the executive session and that while each commissioner independently “arrived at the same conclusion” they didn’t make a decision. It was made by formal vote after they reconvened. The mistake, he said, was his choice of words.

“It sounded like we made a decision and we didn’t,” Halloran said.

He promised to be more diligent in the future to avoid such confusions.