POULSBO — After the death of Fire District No. 18 Commissioner Linda Gunby, the Poulsbo organization was faced with the tough task of naming her successor.

Now, almost a month after the deadline for residents to apply for the position, the board will swear in its latest addition: Poulsbo attorney Conrad Green.

Green was selected from a pool of four applicants, all of whom were well suited for the position, said Fire District No. 18 Commissioner Jim Ingalls.

“We had four very qualified candidates,” he said. “I was impressed with Green’s credentials. I think he’ll bring a whole different perspective.”

Green has a background not only in law, but also in mediation, conflict coaching and arbitration. Ingalls said he feels this will help him with decision making skills, which are necessary when serving on the board.

“I bring the ability to look at matters as a whole when they are brought before the agency,” Green said. “I’m hoping I’ll be able to maintain calm and not let the group get sidetracked by side issues. It’s important to be able to make sound judgments, I know I’ll be able to.”

Green has the additional experience of being involved in first response, he said. For 60 years, his family ran the Green Funeral Home, and as a part of that, they ran an ambulance business as well. It was the only medical emergency service on the east side of Lake Washington. In the 1950s and ‘60s, funeral homes that ran ambulances were fairly common Green said.

“I understand that aspect of the job,” he said. “(The ambulance service) helped me to have an appreciation of how first responders live.”

Green said he is hoping to apply his knowledge to better serve the fire district.

Both Ingalls and Fire Commissioner Dave Ellingson agree that Green’s background in emergency medical service helped put him at the top of the candidates.

“I’m sure it will give him firsthand knowledge of the decisions we are making,” Ellingson said. “He certainly has expertise in legal issues, which will add more perspective to help guide the board. The expertise definitely compliments the board.”

Ellingson added that the board has a wide range of people with different viewpoints. Currently on the board are an engineer, two former firefighters, a builder (Ingalls), and an attorney should round out the board nicely, he said.

“I think he’s a great guy and he’ll make a great commissioner,” Ellingson said.

“I think he’ll fit in really well,” Ingalls said. “The board was very comfortable with him during the interview, and he was comfortable with us. It’s a good fit.”

Green will be sworn in at 4 p.m. Sept. 13 during the commissioners’ regular meeting.