PORT TOWNSEND— East Jefferson Fire-Rescue Commissioner Jess Bondurant Jr. died of complications after heart surgery Tuesday.

He was 70.

“Jess had a heart as big as he was,” said Port Townsend City Councilwoman Laurie Medlicott, who served with Bondurant on the Joint Oversight Fire Board.

“I will miss him terribly.”

Chief Gordon Pomeroy said Bondurant, who was in his 19th year as a fire commissioner, was an advocate for the district and a proponent of the volunteer program.

“Jess will be sorely missed, not only by his family, but by his East Jefferson Fire-Rescue family,” Pomeroy said in a statement.

“He was dedicated to fire prevention first as a volunteer and later as a commissioner.”

Bondurant, who had had longstanding heart disease, was removed from life support at Jefferson HealthCare hospital in Port Townsend on Tuesday after surgery.

Elected three times

Bondurant was appointed fire commissioner for District No. 1 in 1992 and was elected to the position three times.

He filed for another term in the November general election at the last possible moment because he was waiting to see if someone else would step up, said Bill Beezley, district spokesman.

When no one did, he came forward, Beezley said.

He was unopposed and was to be elected to another term by acclamation.

Beezley said there is no succession plan yet in place, but the matter will be addressed at the next scheduled meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20, at Fire Station 1-5, 35 Critter Lane in Port Townsend.

Commissioners Rich Stapf and Zane Wyll will select a third commissioner to the board, and he or she will serve until 2013, at which time a special election will be held to complete the six-year term, Jefferson County Auditor Donna Eldridge said.

Bondurant was born in Yakima and moved to Port Angeles in 1955 before relocating to Port Townsend six years later.

He began a 37-year career with Port Townsend Paper Co. in 1961, starting as an apprentice millwright before obtaining subsequent positions as a maintenance troubleshooter, mechanic, millwright foreman, pipe fitter/welder and finally supervisor.

He retired in 1998.

Bondurant managed a cattle ranch on Egg & I Road before moving to Kala Point.

He and his wife, Pat, have been married for just under 50 years and have three children.

Services have not been announced.

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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.