PORT ANGELES — Tom Oblak has been appointed Olympic Medical Center’s seventh commissioner.

Oblak, a 63-year-old former hospital facilities manager in Florida now living in Sequim, was named to the seat at a special meeting Wednesday night.

He replaces the late Arlene Engel, a longtime community health care advocate and OMC commissioner who died last December at the age of 91.

Oblak will have to stand for election in two years if he wants to serve out the remainder of Engel’s six-year term as commissioner for District 1, Position 2, on the East End of Clallam County.

“I promise to you that I will do my very best,” Oblak said.

Most of Oblak’s 37-year career was spent as director of housekeeping, laundry, safety, security and facilities engineering for the Martin Health System in Stuart, Fla.

He continued his career at Olympic Medical Center as manager of housekeeping and laundry from 2005 to 2009, and retired last March as OMC’s disaster preparedness coordinator.

Nonpartisan position

OMC commissioner is a nonpartisan position that pays $90 per meeting up to $8,640 annually.

Commissioners are eligible for the same insurance as other hospital employees.

Four candidates were interviewed in an open session.

The other candidates were Sequim City Councilman Don Hall, former Sequim Administrative Service Director Karen Goschen and Sequim businessman Andrew Shogren.

Commissioners conducted a 20-minute executive session before making the selection in an open forum.

Commissioner John Beitzel made a motion to appoint Goschen.

Board Chairman Dr. John Miles seconded the motion, but no other commissioner voted to appoint Goschen.

Commissioner Jean Hordyk moved to appoint Oblak. Commissioner Jim Leskinovitch seconded the motion with commissioners Jim Cammack and John Nutter voting in favor.

Nutter, who is also a Port Angeles police officer, participated in the meeting via conference call because he was away at training.

‘Well-maintained’

“I think Olympic Medical Center is a clean, well-maintained hospital,” Oblak said during his interview.

Asked why he sought the position, Oblak replied, “All of my adult life, I’ve worked in hospitals.”

Oblak described OMC as a “fine organization,” adding: “I like the way they treat their patients.”

Oblak’s eight-minute interview was the shortest of the four.

Miles thanked all the candidates for their interest.

He said any of the four “would be excellent in this position.”

“It’s an outstanding group,” Miles said. “But we have to choose one.”

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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.