Amid a lot of local speculation about whether or not she would seek a fourth term, County Commissioner Chris Endresen surprised everyone by announcing on Sunday, April 29, that she will resign in June. According to onlne reports from the Port Orchard Independent as well as as the Kitsap Sun Web sites, Endresen has accepted a position as the State Director of U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell’s office.
In her new position, Endresen will oversee five offices across the state — Spokane, Tacoma, Vancouver, Everett and Tri-Cities, from her office in the Federal Building in downtown Seattle. She will reportedly oversee 18 people in those locations. She said she will continue to reside in Poulsbo and commute.

The 50-year-old Endresen is the current vice president of the Washington State Association of Counties (WASC), as well as representing Kitsap County on a myriad of local, regional and statewide boards and commissions. She is also a recent graduate of the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington.

In March, two-term Republican Commissioner Jan Angel announced she wouldn’t seek a third term. With Endresen out of the picture, 26-year old Democrat Josh Brown will become the county’s senior commissioner. Angel and Brown, will appoint Endresen’s replacement within five days of her resignation. If they can’t agree, the appointment will be made by the governor.