For the past few months, the Port of South Whidbey has been trying to solve a mystery. In book form, the mystery might be titled “Where’s Jim Hawley?”

After hearing nary a peep out of Hawley, a member of the Port’s board of commissioners, the remaining two commissioners dropped him from his elected position Wednesday and officially started to look for an appointee to serve out the remaining seven months in his term.

Hawley, who has held the Number 2 Port district position since joining 1999, hasn’t been to a meeting since January 8, according to Port board president Lynae Slinden.

According to state law, a port district commissioner seat can be declared vacant if a commissioner has failed to attend a meeting for 60 days. A port commission may also choose to excuse such an absence.

Hawley, a Freeland resident, was appointed to replace the late Port of South Whidbey commissioner Dorothy Cleveland several months after she became ill in May 1999. His appointment began in January 2000.

Hawley’s absence forced commissioners Lynae Slinden and Gene Sears to take action at the Port meeting Wednesday evening.

“His not being here shows there is a vacancy,” Slinden said at the meeting.

Slinden and the other remaining Port commissioner, Gene Sears, said they went at great lengths to contact Hawley. In addition to making numerous phone calls, Slinden said they even requested a sheriff’s deputy to check on Hawley at his home. However, the deputy did not find him at his residence.

Slinden said Hawley has been notified by mail and certified mail that the April 9 meeting would give him a chance to explain his absence.

“We’d love to have him explain to us what’s going on,” she said.

Hawley did not answer phone calls to his home Thursday, thus was unable to comment on his ejection from the Port board

The two commissioners chose to declare Hawley’s position vacant, Slinden said, because they cannot function with just two members. She said it is unfair to the community to make decisions for the residents of Whidbey Island based on the opinions of two people.

“We’ve exhausted all resources,” said Slinden. “We need a third commissioner.”

The port will begin its search for a new commissioner immediately. Slinden said she wants to have the position filled by June.