ARLINGTON — Jim Chase is familiar with the greens, whether it’s keeping track of them or playing golf on them.
But it was his experience with the former that netted him his newest position with the city of Arlington.
Chase was hired in November as the city’s new finance director. The newest department head is taking over for recently retired Kathy Peterson, who spent 44 years working for the city — the majority of which was spent as the city finance director.
Chase spent the past 22 years working in Pasco. He served as its city finance manager for the past 10 of those years before accepting the Arlington job.
“I’m looking forward to the challenges,” Chase said. “I’m getting familiar with a lot of new people. It’s hard to remember all of them sometimes, but I’m trying.”
Chase said his wife and he have enjoyed coming back to the west side of the state. Chase, who grew up in Seattle, spent some time in Camano Island when he was younger.
“It’s kind of like coming back home,” he said.
Chase attended Whitworth University in Spokane before moving to the Tri-Cities with his wife, Jeanie, where the couple raised their children.
It was at Whitworth where Chase got into playing golf — a sport his wife and he still enjoy playing to this day.
“I like all the golf courses around here,” Chase said about Snohomish County. “I’m a five and (my wife’s) an 18 handicap.”
Chase has inherited some difficult duties with his new job. The Arlington City Council earlier this month approved what Mayor Margaret Larson called a “bare-bones” 2010 budget.
Chase said he did not have much input on the recently passed $66.7 million budget, which included more than $1.8 million in cuts.
The city’s current and former finance department staff members, including Peterson, did a great job balancing next year’s budget, he said.
“They did most of the work,” Chase said. “Right now I’m familiarizing myself — all the staff know what they’re doing and I don’t want to come in and change anything.”
City of Arlington spokeswoman Kristin Banfield said Chase has brought some new perspective to the city.
“He’s got a lot of energy and we’re all really excited,” Banfield said. “He’s got his work cut out for him, but he’s got a wealth of experience from Pasco. We’re excited to have him around.”
