Largent in third term as chairman

Commissioner Michael Largent at the helm.

The Board of Whitman County Commissioners, in keeping with their annual rotation, changed seats at their regular meeting Monday, naming Commissioner Michael Largent as the new chairman. Commissioner Dean Kinzer of Pullman served as the chair for 2015.

Commissioner Art Swannack was appointed as the vice chairman, making this the second time he has been in that seat. This is Largent’s third time as the chair since he was first elected to office in 2006.

As the commissioners changed seats, Kinzer settled into the last chair in the line and said, “I just now need to remember one word: second,” referencing his role to second motions made by the vice chair.

Largent is currently serving his third term as commissioner, which still has two years left, and Kinzer and Swannack are both in the final year of their original terms.

Monday, Swannack told the Gazette that he has officially decided to run for a second term.

Swannack, who represents District 1 which includes Tekoa, Oakesdale, Farmington, Steptoe, Garfield, Palouse, Lamont, St. John, Malden, Rosalia, Thornton and northern sections of Pullman, originally was elected in the Nov. 2012 general election after defeating former commissioner Greg Partch, who had served on the board for 12 years.

He told the Gazette he enjoys the work of being a commissioner and would be honored to serve another term. He also said that he, Kinzer and Largent work well together.

Kinzer, who was also elected in Nov. 2012, has not yet announced if he will or will not seek another term. He defeated former commissioner Pat O’Neill in 2012 and represents District 2 which includes Colton, Uniontown and southern sections of Pullman.