Citing changing life priorities and the desire to spend more time traveling with his wife, Daryle Schei resigned this week from the Bainbridge Island Park and Recreation District board.

Schei announced his resignation in a letter to board chair Dane Spencer.

He had just completed the first year of his second term on the board, having been re-elected unopposed in November 2001.

“I loved every minute of it,” Schei said of his time in office. “I think the park board has accomplished a lot in the last five years – a new swimming pool, ball fields, working with land trust on Blakely Harbor (Park). The list goes on and on and on.”

Park district Director Dave Lewis lauded Schei for his work.

“He’s been an outstanding board member in his big-picture efforts on behalf of the district,” Lewis said. “He’s been involved in every aspect of the district’s operations, and has been an extremely dedicated volunteer.”

Schei’s particular interest was youth sports, having served as director of Pee Wee football for 10 years, even after his own children had grown up.

He also chaired a task force appointed by then-mayor Dwight Sutton to study future uses of the Vincent Road landfill site.

Schei’s community involvement will continue, he said. A long-time Rotarian, he serves as district secretary for that organization.

Schei’s resignation marks the third time in three years that a member of the five-person park board has stepped down in mid-term.

In February 2000, Joanne Croghan resigned to care for her ill husband, shortly after being elected to a third four-year term. She was replaced by Ken DeWitt, who had served previously on the district’s trails committee.

Then in fall of that year, Bob Silver left the board after completing the first year of his second term, to devote more time to his business and family. He was replaced by Dane Spencer, whom he had edged at the polls the previous November.

Both vacancies were filled by appointment, and DeWitt and Spencer later held the seats in re-election bids.

That process will play out again with Schei’s resignation.

After a brief discussion at Thursday’s meeting – in which park commissioner Tom Swolgaard jokingly threatened not to accept Schei’s resignation – the board agreed to solicit applications for the vacant position, which must be filled within 45 days.

Schei’s successor, whom the board hopes to appoint by March, would have to go before voters to hold the seat in the November election.

Interested applicants should submit a resume and other materials to the park district office by Jan. 24. More information is available from Lewis at 842-2306.

Staff writer Kathryn Haines

contributed to this report.