King County Fire District 34 is governed by a three-member Board of Commissioners. Each Commissioner is elected to a 6-year term at a General Election. Vacancies are filled by appointment, until the next general election, when the position is filled for the remaining term of the replaced commissioner. There is no salary for Commissioners, but they are compensated $114.00 for each day or portion thereof that they work on fire district business. (RCW 52.14.010) The Board of Commissioners is responsible for annually selecting a chairperson and vice-chairperson.
Board of Commissioners
Position 1 – Jerry Nuernberger was appointed to fill a vacancy on the KCFD34 board in January 2020. Commissioner Nuernberger has resided in King County since 2006. He is retired from Eaton Corp and formally Westinghouse where he served for 43 years in management and various professional capacities across the USA. Most recently, he had the responsibility for guiding Eaton’s electrical power and control business with Microsoft, Boeing, Paccar, Intel, and Weyerhaeuser. He has served as president of the Canyon Creek Home Owner Association and is presently on its architectural committee. Mr. Nuernberger is active with his church where he served on the mission leadership team, participates in the choir, and is active in support of local and global missions. His avocations include sailing, gardening, photography and videography, woodworking, learning the blues harmonica, and enjoying his family. Jerry and his wife of 50 years, Kate, have two children and three grandchildren. Email Commissioner Nuernberger
Position 2 – Thomas Johnston, Chairman, was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Board in October, 2000 and was re-elected in 2002, 2008 and 2014. He works as a Control Systems Engineer with Systems Interface, Inc. and lives in the eastern portion of the district with his wife and four children. Commissioner Johnston has been a District resident for 13 years and has lived on the Eastside for the past 47 years. Email Chairperson Commissioner Johnston.
Position 3 – A lifelong Washingtonian, I am very happy to live in Trilogy where I am an active volunteer in many clubs and activities such as the President of the Billiards Club where I teach and organize tournaments and events. As a USMC Vietnam combat veteran, I am an active member on the veteran’s board. In 2009 I retired as National Accounts Regional Manager for a nationwide window company of over 30 years. I am a former marathon and ultra-marathoner runner of over 40 events in Boston, Chicago, New York, Honolulu and Hong Kong. I am now an avid cyclist, exercise enthusiast, and golf fanatic. I have been married to my lovely wife for 31 years who immigrated from Hong Kong at 16 years old. A dental hygienist in Redmond, she has had many firefighters as patients throughout the years so first responders have a special place in our hearts. Email Commissioner Jensen