Verdoes steps down as port commissioner

District 3 Port Commissioner Joe Verdoes announced last week that he will step down from his post on February 1. Verdoes, who was initially elected Port Commissioner in 2015, cited health reasons. The commissioner was a self-employed commercial fisherman and local businessman. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Washington and a Master’s Degree in Developmental Studies from Deakin University, Geelong, Australia. The Similk Beach resident was a member of the Port’s Marina Advisory Committee for seven years before taking office as a commissioner. He had recently been elected president of the board. Before becoming a commercial fisherman in 1994, he was employed as an Economic Development Officer for a small Australian community. His resume also includes operation of a dairy farm in Mount Vernon. Port Executive Dan Worra characterized Verdoes as “a model commissioner.”