Montesano resident chosen by county commissioners to fill county auditor position

Chris Thomas replaces retired Vern Spatz, vows to maintain the integrity of the office

By Dan Hammock • September 19, 2017 7:00 pm
DAN HAMMOCK | THE DAILY WORLD Chris Thomas of Montesano is sworn in to office by Grays Harbor County Commissioner Vickie Raines Monday afternoon. Thomas was selected by the commission to fill the County Auditor position left vacant when Vern Spatz retired at the end of August after 28 years in office.
DAN HAMMOCK | THE DAILY WORLD Chris Thomas of Montesano is sworn in to office by Grays Harbor County Commissioner Vickie Raines Monday afternoon. Thomas was selected by the commission to fill the County Auditor position left vacant when Vern Spatz retired at the end of August after 28 years in office.

Grays Harbor County has a new auditor.

Montesano resident Chris Thomas was appointed by the county commissioners Tuesday after an hour-long discussion about the three candidates under consideration. Commissioner Vickie Raines moved to appoint Thomas, it was seconded by Commissioner Randy Ross, and Thomas was unanimously approved.

“I’m really excited to be working with the great staff here at the auditor’s office,” he said. “I want to serve the public and make sure our elections run smoothly. I appreciate the trust the public puts on the auditor’s office and I will work to keep it that way.”

The choice wasn’t easy. What was supposed to be a 10-minute executive session turned into an hour, as Ross, Raines and Commissioner Wes Cormier had some difference of opinion on who the top choice would be. After the meeting, Cormier said his top candidate was Hoquiam Mayor Jasmine Dickhoff. Raines and Ross favored Thomas. But all three commissioners said that two of the candidates were well qualified and all three would have approved the appointment of any of the candidates. The third candidate was Ruth Kivi.

The candidates were put forward by the Grays Harbor Democratic organization, called to do so because the opening came up due to the retirement of longtime auditor Vern Spatz, who is a Democrat. Spatz retired at the end of August after 28 years in the office.

“I would like to thank the Democrats for providing us with three excellent candidates,” Raines said before announcing Thomas as the new auditor.

Thomas has lived in Montesano since 1999. He has been on the Montesano School Board since November 2014.

Thomas was a research analyst with the state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development for a short time in late 2000 and 2001. He spent 17 years working for the state Employment Security Office’s Special Investigation Unit. He started as an economic analyst and wound up working on wage verification related to fraud investigations until he left the agency this past January.

Thomas was sworn in immediately after his appointment was announced early Tuesday afternoon in the commission chambers by Raines. The appointment took effect immediately.