Robert Cromwell was selected Tuesday night to replace Mike Spence on the school board for the Bainbridge Island School District.

Spence resigned for business reasons recently after serving for 12 years.

“I’m honored and humbled to be selected to serve our community on the BISD Board,” Cromwell said. “I look forward to working with my fellow board members, the students, teachers and staff of the district and our wider community to continue to meet the needs of all students.”

For the last 15 years, Cromwell has worked at Seattle City Light where he recently assumed responsibility for energy efficiency and related programs. Prior to that he practiced law.

Cromwell has lived on Bainbridge Island since 2006 and has served on the state Ferry Advisory Committee and at Grace Church. His daughter is a junior in high school and attends classes at both Eagle Harbor and Bainbridge high schools.

Four candidates interviewed for the open position. “Our community is fortunate to have such engaged people interested in serving on the school board,” said school board president Lynn Smith.

Smith said the board was impressed by the high caliber of candidates.

“The board had a tough decision to make and after a robust discussion we chose the candidate with the best experience to help guide the district through some tricky times,” she said. “Robert will be a steady hand keeping a watchful eye on our budget, and helping to guide the district as we implement our new District Improvement Plan.”

Cromwell will be sworn in at the April 15 school board meeting. He will serve out the remainder of Spence’s term through November.

The three others from the 2nd District who interviewed for the position were: Jason Cheung, an ophthalmologist who practices in Bainbridge Island and Silverdale; Ross Eide, a former attorney and current stay-at-home father; and Joshua Michael, a doctor at Virginia Mason in Seattle. They all also have children attending school in the BISD.