Kevin Entze is running unopposed for a seat on the Pierce County Fire District No. 5 board of commissioners.
Entze was appointed to a two-year term when the board expanded earlier this decade. He was then elected to a full six-year term.
Entze’s interest in the Gig Harbor Dire Department comes in part from his 28 years of service in local police departments. He started his career with the Prosser Police Department, then moved to Gig Harbor in 1984. He worked for the Gig Harbor Police Department for 22 years.
Entze’s police background and involvement with the fire department “goes hand-in-hand with public safety,” he said.
During his time as a Gig Harbor police officer, Entze watched the need for fire and emergency services grow, along with the city.
That growth is what Entze keeps an eye on as a fire commissioner.
“As a board, we try to keep up with that growth,” he said.
Entze said board expansion, balancing hiring with demand and keeping firefighters properly equipped all have been a result of growth and understanding priorities.
One of the most important aspects of the department’s growth has been managing its finances. Entze said the department has $4 million or $5 million in reserves “to hold us over if times get tough the way the economy is right now.”
Looking forward to his next six years in office, Entze said construction and utilization of a proposed training facility is of great importance to the safety of the community and the growth of the department. The project includes new buildings, drill areas and parking.
Entze said the training center would help keep Gig Harbor firefighters up to date and trained. The proposed center also could be used as a regional training facility for other agencies, which could bring in additional revenue for the department.
Entze also would like to see the department keep service levels high and response times low.
Entze and his wife, Vicki, have been married for 31 years and have three grown children and two grandchildren. He retired from the police force in 2006 but didn’t stray too far. He’s currently the security specialist at Gig Harbor High School — a “great job and a great school district,” he said.
He is currently involved with the Elks Club, and he also enjoys gardening.
Print
E-Mail