Arnel Blancas is the new Chief Financial Officer/clerk/special adviser to the mayor.

“His strong commitment to Montesano is matched by his financial expertise both in the public and private arenas,” Montesano Mayor Vini Samuel said in an email. “His immediate work history is as University of Washington’s Assistant Director of Strategy and Operations — handling in operations, contracts, and capacity building budgets. He worked in governmental budget analysis and management at different entities for the past 11 years.”

A unanimous City Council approved the hire. He started work Aug. 28.

He lives in Montesano with his wife and two children. He coaches youth sports and is a math tutor for Montesano’s elementary schools, Samuel wrote. His wife teaches at Beacon Elementary.

He has an associate’s degree from Grays Harbor College, a bachelor’s from Western Washington University and a master’s in business administration at Pacific Lutheran University.

He takes over for Doug Streeter who left the city in July to become the controller at the Lewis County Public Utilities District.