David Franklin leaving helm of Shelter Bay

Longtime Shelter Bay manager David Franklin dropped a metaphorical bomb of his own on Pearl Harbor Day with the surprise announcement of his resignation as manager of the local residential community.

In his Dec. 7 missive Franklin announced he is stepping down Jan. 28 from the high-profile role he has filled here for eight years.

Franklin, with more than two decades experience in community and resort management, wrote that he is “leaving Shelter Bay for a new opportunity and a new chapter in my career.”

Franklin told the Weekly News on Monday, he is headed north, to Whatcom County.

“Given my age,” he quipped, “what looks to be my last stop on my career journey will be at Semiahmoo Residents Association in Blaine.

Franklin has been the face of the community and involved in numerous infrastructure projects, policy initiatives and intergovernmental negotiations since December 2013.

“I have grown personally and in my career,” Franklin said in an open letter to the community’s residents. “I have been fortunate enough to enjoy the overwhelming support of the board, committees, staff and community members.

“This,” he stressed, “is something that not all community association managers can say and for this consistent source of encouragement, I will always be thankful.”

Franklin was literally tested by fire early in his lengthy Shelter Bay tenure.

Seven boats moored at Shelter Bay Marina were destroyed and six sank when a blaze with flames shooting up to 50 feet in the air swept through the J-Dock area in February 2014. Several other boats were damaged – losses were initially estimated north of $1 million – but, fortunately, no one was injured.

Franklin was the go-to source for the region’s media that covered the fire and earned high marks for assuming a cool, calm posture during its stressful aftermath.

“There were no injuries,” he told the Seattle Times in the hours immediately following the fire, “just a lot of broken hearts for those boats that were lost.”

Franklin assured the Times, Weekly News and other media outlets that a plan was already in place to determine both the full extent of damage and possible environmental impact of diesel fuel that leaked into Swinomish Channel.

On the latter point, Franklin was particularly well-suited. He had graduated from Western Washington University with a degree in environmental science and economics.

“It really wasn’t a decision,” he said of his eventual career path. “It was more of the direction the tide took me. I do believe every complex organization needs someone with a background in economics.”

Franklin, who put himself through college as a sport fishing guide, parlayed that experience first into a managerial position at a resort in Alaska and then as executive director of a time-share association in Snohomish County prior to his arrival at Shelter Bay.

His management duties at the 950-home community with 2,000 residents on Swinomish Reservation have been widespread, including but not limited to development, implementation and oversight of various operating, capital and utilities budgets.

By his own assessment it has been no easy juggling act.

“In my eight years at Shelter Bay,” he said, “I have shared many successes and endured a few failures.”

Franklin has represented Shelter Bay in talks with the Town of La Conner and Swinomish Tribal Community regarding mutual utilities and infrastructure interests, among them prospective water and wastewater system upgrades and Next Generation 9-1-1 residential re-addressing.

“I think I have been most successful in building better relations with the Swinomish administration and with the Town of La Conner,” said Franklin.

Hopefully, that work pays dividends after I am gone.”

Franklin’s time at Shelter Bay has dovetailed with that of four-term La Conner Mayor Ramon Hayes.

“David is a very competent and efficient administrator,” Hayes told the Weekly News. “He will be missed not only by the Shelter Bay Community but by the Town of La Conner and I am sure the Swinomish Tribal Community as well.”

Hayes said he reached out to Franklin and the Shelter Bay board of directors to extend well wishes and support on behalf of the town council and La Conner residents and business owners following the marina fire. He said Franklin and the board returned the favor when the COVID-19 pandemic struck in March 2020.

“David and the board strongly encouraged Shelter Bay residents to support the town and its businesses during COVID,” said Hayes. “That was much appreciated.”

Hayes defines Franklin as an eternal optimist.

“He’s the kind of guy who sees the cup half-full, not half-empty,” said Hayes. “That kind of optimism coupled with knowledge is what moves the ball down the field.”

But now Franklin stands poised to tackle new challenges in another arena.

The Weekly News will follow up later with further coverage of Franklin’s Shelter Bay tenure based on interviews with him and those with whom he has worked.