The Trust Board of Ebey’s Landing announced the finalists for manager of the 17,500-acre reserve.

The three finalists will be interviewed in January with a decision to be made shortly thereafter, said Lisbeth Cort, interim reserve manager.

The three finalists are:

• Kristen Griffen, Spokane City/County Historic Preservation Officer.

• Johan Keates, Park, Trails, Facilities and Property Director for Mason County Parks, Trails and Facilities in Shelton.

• Jeffry Watson, who was most recently a division manager for housing and community services in Snohomish County.

Cort said six candidates were selected for the initial interviews that took place last week. Of those first interviews, the three were selected for the final interviews in early January.

The person selected as reserve manager will replace Mark Preiss, who resigned July 31. He took a position with the Glacier Park Conservancy in Montana.

The three finalists mark the second time reserve officials have tried to fill Preiss’ position. Six candidates were interviewed in October and two finalists interviewed in November before a job offer was made. Unfortunately, the person who was offered the job turned it down, Cort said.

She remained optimistic about the second hiring process.

She noted a similar situation happened when Preiss was hired. Even though he was hired on a second attempt, Preiss enjoyed a more than six-year tenure as manager of Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve.