A well-known community volunteer in Central Whidbey will be taking the reins at the Port of Coupeville.

David Day begins his new position as executive director Monday, Dec. 15.

“I’ve always been interested in the port and the fact it owns two very iconic historic properties on Whidbey Island,” Day said. “I came here because it’s a beautiful little town and I wanted to contribute to the best of my ability.

“This job is an extension of that.”

The Coupeville resident moved to the island in 2000 after owning a restaurant in Skagit County.

“I was pretty clear I wouldn’t own another restaurant, but I knew I wanted to be involved,” Day said.

He went on to serve on the Town of Coupeville’s Planning Commission, the Ebey’s Forever Fund Board and the Friends of Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve, serving as board president.

Since last spring, Day has volunteered his time to help the port apply for a National Heritage Preservation Grant.

He has also been shadowing Director Tim McDonald, who’s leaving the job, on various projects, including the fuel float replacement project, drafting the request for proposals for Greenbank Farm management and other various port operations.

“If we had chosen any of (the candidates) we’d have gotten a great executive director,” said Port Commissioner Bill Larsen.

The three members of the board said they chose Day based on his familiarity and experience with the port and community.

Day will work alongside McDonald for two weeks prior to his departure.

“Tim really has gotten a lot accomplished in a year,” Day said. “He brought the moorage floats and fuel floats back to viability — that’s just one aspect.”

Owning and maintaining two iconic structures — the Coupeville Wharf and Greenbank Farm — with very little money and making it work is an accomplishment, he said.

Ongoing projects include negotiating a new management contract with the Greenbank Farm Management Group, negotiating with parties interested in the Greenbank Solar Project and managing ongoing maintenance and repair projects such as the port stairwell and port office foundation.

Running the port affords Day the opportunity to learn and manage all types of subjects.

His experience working on the planning commission and with the reserve should give him some familiarity with what goes into working with historic structures.

“It’s some pretty interesting and pretty important historical references,” Day said. “I would like to think I have a reasonable understanding.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge.”