Port of Port Angeles Commissioner Steven D. Burke announced his resignation Thursday afternoon, vacating his elected seat effective immediately.
The departure came just hours ahead of a scheduled special session where the Port Commission planned to formally censure him.
Commissioners Connie Beauvais and Colleen M. McAleer had previously called on Burke to step down, a request he initially refused.
The move toward censure followed months of scrutiny and the November 2025 release of three reports by the Washington State Auditor’s Office.
An initial audit flagged irregular payments, prompting a full-scale fraud investigation into Burke’s separate, full-time position as Executive Director of the William Shore Memorial Pool District.
The state’s Fraud Investigation Report concluded that Burke personally benefited from at least $41,148 in self-insurance medical benefits program payments, payroll tax refunds, and personal credit card purchases.
Investigators also identified an additional $25,980 in questionable expenses linked to Burke, representing costs for which a legitimate business purpose could not be established.
Auditors determined the pool district lacked sufficient internal controls, leaving it susceptible to misappropriation.
The draft censure resolution, which Burke’s resignation preempts, stated that the Port faced a "reputational risk" tied directly to Burke’s actions at the Shore Aquatic Center.
The resolution acknowledged that while the issue concerned his independent conduct rather than Port operations, community confidence in public institutions is of "paramount importance."
Had the resolution been adopted, it would have publicly expressed disapproval and immediately stripped Burke of his position as Vice President of the Port Commission. It also sought to remove his committee assignments and restrict travel reimbursements.
The auditor’s findings remain under review by the Washington State Attorney General’s office for potential criminal charges.
The Attorney General’s Office indicated earlier this week that there are currently no updates regarding the charges.