SEQUIM — Gary Coffey is new to the Clallam County Fire District No. 3 Board of Commissioners, but is no rookie to fire service.
Coffey, 57, was sworn in Tuesday along with Richard Houts, who ran unopposed and was re-elected to a 6-year term in November.
Coffey also ran unopposed — but that’s not the only thing he has in common with Houts. He worked for Houts when Houts served as Fire Chief for Los Angeles County, Calif.
“He’s probably the best fire chief L.A. County ever had,” Coffey said of his mentor and former boss.
Houts said he’s not sure about that, but was pleased when Coffey decided to run for the seat being vacated by Dave Cameron Jr.
Coffey served 27 years with Los Angeles County and three years in a smaller California fire department.
He also served on the Covina, Calif., City Council for four years.
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The rest of the story appears in Wednesday’s Peninsula Daily News.