Colfax (June 18,2020) - After more than 24 years, the Port of Whitman County’s longest-serving commissioner will leave his seat next month. 

John E. Love, District 1 Commissioner, announced his resignation at the Commission’s June 18 meeting. 

“It has been one of my life’s greatest pleasures to serve on this Commission for the past 24 years,” Love wrote in a letter to the board. “Enacting policies that truly improve the lives of my fellow citizens of Whitman County has been both an honor and a privilege. 

However, I have made the difficult decision to step down from my position, due to several personal reasons.” 

Love’s last day will be Wednesday, July 15. He has five years remaining on his fifth six-year term, and the Port is now seeking a commissioner to complete the remainder. 

After the announcement, Commissioner Kristine Meyer thanked Love for his mentorship. 

“John, I know that’s hard but I just want to let you know I don’t think that I could have done this – taken this position – without your mentorship and your leadership here. My tenure has certainly been short but it’s been that much more gratifying and enjoyable for your leadership.” 

Commissioner Tom Kammerzell also expressed his regret at the announcement. 

“You are going to be terribly missed, John,” Kammerzell said. Love first took office in January 1996 after winning a three-way election to replace Robert Heglar, who served on the board for 18 years. In an interview with the Lewiston-Morning Tribune, Love said he ran for a seat on the port board for the challenge. 

"I'm very impressed with what the commissioners and the managers have accomplished since their inception," Love told the Tribune. "Being very favorably impressed, I can see there's a challenge to continue striving for accomplishments and I think there's a great opportunity for the people of Whitman County and for the Port of Whitman, and I guess the ego is that I would like to be a part of it." 

Over the course of his tenure, Love’s leadership contributed to several of the Port’s major achievements, including the development of Pullman Industrial Park and Port of Whitman Business Air Center, receipt of legal authority for ports to build telecommunications infrastructure and vast improvements to Boyer Park & Marina. 

Love also represented Whitman County in the broader port and maritime industry. A former rear admiral in the United States Navy Reserve, Love’s leadership skills landed him seats on ports and waterways boards across the state. He served as secretary of the Washington Public Ports Association in 1998, vice president in 1999 and president in 2000. He also served on the board of Pacific Northwest Waterways Association, and was recently awarded the 2018 Distinguished Service Member Award from the organization. 

Ego was never present in Love’s approach to public service, Executive Director Joe Poire said. “John is a real statesman. The Port rode on his leadership at the state and federal level, as he was always asked to be on boards and committees,” Poire said. “John’s leadership provided the Port a conduit to everybody. He opened doors that this Port had not experienced before. He brought the Port to a whole new level, and all the while he did it with great humility.” 

A history of Love’s accomplishments will be presented to the Commission, including Love and his family, at its regular July 2 meeting. 

The two remaining Port Commissioners, Kammerzell and Meyer, will appoint a new commissioner from District 1 within 90 days of the resignation. The person selected will need to run in the next open election in November 2021 in order to retain the seat. The winner of the election will serve out the remainder of Love's term, ending in 2025. 

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About the Port of Whitman County

The Port of Whitman County is dedicated to improving the quality of life for all citizens of Whitman County through industrial real estate development, preservation of multi-modal transportation, facilitation of economic development and provision of on-water recreational opportunities.