File this under "the first step is the hardest."
Washington state Port of Bellingham commissioners have decided to move forward with finding a replacement for Jim Darling, who resigned from the $126,000 per year post more than eight months ago.
Port officials said that 12 executive search firms have bid on a contract to conduct a search for the new director. Commissioners are expected to trim the list of bidders down to three to five finalists during their regular public meeting on Feb. 16. Following interviews with the finalists, a winner will be named with the search beginning shortly thereafter.
At least one member of the port commission is hopeful that a executive director could be hired by May.
Others are hesitant to pick a new director when two of the three commissioners face elections in November.
