PORT TOWNSEND — It’s fade to black for Gary Lemons, who after nine years as the PTTV’s first and only station manager has told the public access channel’s board he’s leaving at year’s end.

The move will enable him to run for City Council in 2007.

It will also allow him to become a full-time yoga instructor, concentrate on publishing his second book of poetry and operate his high-definition television production business, the only one on the North Olympic Peninsula.

The only thing that would allow him to remain at the station, Lemons said, would be if he went part-time at $18,000 a year or less, as required by law.

The full-time station manager at what is believed to be the smallest public access channel in the nation, is paid $46,000 under a city of Port Townsend contract.

He said he is proud of the station’s growth and accomplishments since he helped found it.

“Every aspect of this community has been represented,” said Lemons, relaxing at the Blaine Street studio — which he built using his carpentry skills.

“It has been my privilege to have served them.

“It’ll be difficult to leave.”

Indeed, the station broadcasts viewpoints and coverage ranging from gay rights to church services, local music and arts to politics, as well as business, government and elections programming.

Future of PTTV

PTTV, which operates Millennium Digital Cable channels 47 and 48 in East Jefferson County — which can be viewed only in Jefferson County — has “a tremendous future, better under new leadership,” he said.

Refreshing the station’s leadership would in turn refresh it intellectually, spiritually and conceptually, he said.

Lemons, 58 and a 30-year Port Townsend resident, said he has several reasons for wanting to run for City Council during 2007, a year in which four council seats come up for grabs.

The seats include council positions held by Frank Benskin, Geoff Masci, Laurie Medlicott and Catharine Robinson.