PORT TOWNSEND — Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce board members know who they want to be their next executive director — but they aren’t saying who it is yet.

The name will be released when contract negotiations are completed, said Kris Nelson, chamber vice president, after the chamber board voted on Thursday

“The board has come to a decision on a candidate and has begun negotiations,” Nelson said.

“We’re just not comfortable saying who it is until we complete the process.”

Nelson said the person selected has been contacted and offered the position and that the chamber and the candidate are discussing salary and benefits.

“It’s not straight forward when hiring an executive director,” Nelson said.

“We’re hoping to come to some sort of agreement on Monday or Tuesday and announce the decision then.”

More than two-thirds of the 21-member chamber board agreed on one candidate during Thursday’s vote.

The decision had been put on hold for a week after two meetings of the chamber board failed to gather enough members for a quorum.

If hired, the new chamber director will succeed Tim Caldwell, who resigned after 16 years on the job to accept a Port Townsend office manager position with Puget Sound Energy.