Commissioners Bios

The Port of Illahee is served by 3 commissioners, each elected to 6 year terms, with elections occurring every 2 years.  When commissioners are appointed to complete an unfinished term, the position is to be open for election at the next election cycle.

The commissioners are non-pay/non-partisan. They do, however, receive a stipend for meetings and extra duties as compensation.

James Aho
Elected 11/2019 – term expires December 31, 2025

E-mail address: illaheeportthree@gmail.com

Jeffrey Rupert
Appointed 10/12/22 to fill the remainder of Amer Bartz’s term – term expires December 31, 2023

E-mail address:  illaheeport2@gmail.com

Jon Buesch
Appointed 9/21/22 to fill the remainder of John Burton’s term – term expires December 31, 2023

E-mail address: illaheeportone@gmail.com

Commissioners’ Biographies

James Aho

  • I moved to Kitsap County in 1969 and 10 years later decided I wanted to live in Illahee and have been here ever since.
  • I am a professional engineer having worked for the Navy and as a consultant for over 40 years, and am now retired.
  • I am an active member of the Illahee Preserve Stewardship Committee, and board member of the Illahee Forest Preserve and the Illahee Community group (both non-profits).
  • I have been an advocate for Illahee beginning when commercial fish pens were approved north of the dock (and successfully appealed). When high zoning densities became an issue I volunteered to be an Illahee Citizen Advisory Group member and helped write the Illahee Community Plan. I help promote the film “Illahee – Saving Puget Sound One Watershed at a Time”, and volunteer to keep up the Illahee Preserve and help acquire adjacent properties to the Preserve when they become available.
  • I am also a regular contributor to the illaheecommunity.com website that was created by the Port of Illahee years ago to provide a place where Port and Illahee Community information can be shared.

Jeffrey Rupert

The following information was copied from the 2023 Kitsap County General Election Voters’ Phamplet:

Jon Buesch

(pending)

Incoming Commissioner Eric Hall