A little more than halfway into his first term, Ron Rhinehart announced his resignation from the North Whidbey Parks and Recreation District.

Rhinehart, who is currently president of the elected board that oversees the John Vanderzicht Memorial Pool in Oak Harbor, announced his resignation last week and it will become effective April 30 or earlier if the commissioners appoint a replacement before then.

He will serve on the board through the interview process to find a new executive director for the district, which is a position that has been vacant since the beginning of the year.

Rhinehart said he is moving to the East Coast to take a job with the State Department. He’s going to Washington, D.C., for several months of training before being assigned to an embassy overseas.

“It’s been a pleasure. I’ve really enjoyed my time with it,” Rhinehart said of his experience serving as an elected official for the park board.

He encouraged people interested in his position to contact any of the current commissioners or show up to the next North Whidbey Parks and Recreation District meeting at 7 p.m., Thursday, April 12, at the John Vanderzicht Memorial Pool, 85 SE Jerome St. in Oak Harbor.

Candidates for Rhinehart’s position will be interviewed in a public forum. The candidate chosen will be appointed to fill the remainder of Rhinehart’s term, which is scheduled to end Dec. 31, 2013.