Thompson fills vacant District 3 position
Courtesy photo - Adams County Auditor Heidi Hunt administers the oath of office to Terry Thompson.
RITZVILLE — Terry Thompson has been appointed interim Commissioner of Adams County District # 3. Thompson was sworn in April 30. He fills the position recently vacated by Jeff Stevens, and will sit on the board with fellow commissioners John Marshall and Roger Hartwig.
“I’m honored with the appointment…was one of 12 candidates being considered. I’ve been interested in an Adams County commissioner position since I moved here from Franklin County in 1981,” Thompson said. “I’m looking forward to serving the people and plan to run for the position when it’s up for election in November.”
Thompson has been extremely active in politics over the years, having served on 19 different political boards.
“I’ve spent 24 years on the Adams County Fair Board, 22 years on the Othello Civil Service Board, and have been involved in the Boy Scouts of America for 30 years…was a Scout commissioner for Troop 803 for the last 13 years,” Thompson said. “I was elected to the Port of Othello District board 10 years ago, have spent six and a half years on the Othello Hospital board and five years on the Adams County Development board with Roger Hartwig.
Thompson has since resigned from his commissioner positions at the Port and the hospital to be able to “concentrate” on his county commissioner responsibilities.
“It’s a fulltime job…we meet every Monday and the first and third Wednesday in Ritzville, and the second and fourth Wednesday in Othello,” Thompson said. “My current priority is to learn as much as I can and try to vote my conscience and do what’s right for the whole county, not just District 3, which covers most of the town of Othello. I want to be a commissioner that represents the whole county.”
Stevens resigned from the position six weeks ago. Thompson fills the temporary vacancy, and will file for the fulltime position Monday.
“This is just an eight-month appointment,” Thompson said. “Whoever wins the election in November takes over fulltime the first of January. Hopefully I’m lucky enough to continue.”