A retired minister who’s currently the co-owner of a small Coupeville hotel was picked to be the newest member of the Island County Planning Commission.

The three county commissioners unanimously appointed Mitchell Howard to the volunteer board last Monday morning, but it wasn’t an easy decision for them. The commissioners spoke highly of the other applicant, Marge Moore, but they ultimately went along with Commissioner Angie Homola’s recommendation to appoint Howard.

Howard will serve the remainder of the term vacated by Rex Porter, who represented commissioner district 2. At an earlier meeting, Homola said Porter resigned because his work schedule conflicted too often with planning commission meetings.

Howard has a master’s degree in French literature and a master of divinity degree, according to biographical information provided by the county. He’s part of a partnership that owns the Inn at Penn Cove, located in the historic Jacob Jenny House.

Howard has been active on the Central Whidbey Chamber of Commerce board, the Coupeville School Board and the Water Resources Forum.