JIM POLEWCHAK Jim Polewchak admits he's newcomer to Port Aransas, but he says he makes up for that with his enthusiasm.

"I've always been interested in local politics," he said, "and I love Port Aransas."

Polewchak, 36, was appointed on Thursday, Feb. 8, to the Place 3 posi- tion on the city council, filling the spot left vacant by the death of Jerry Watson.

Polewchak will serve until the May council meeting.

Polewchak grew up in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. He got degrees in 1992 from Miami University of Ohio in marketing and atmospheric physics, minoring in international business and German. Polewchak said the degrees were not double majors; they were two degrees from different colleges at the university.

After taking a job in technical sales, Polewchak said he discovered, "If you didn't have an engineering degree, you hit a glass ceiling."

So, he went back to school for an electrical engineering degree from the University of Cincinnati in 1998.

Later that year, he moved to Dallas to sell equipment for a manufacturer of laser and ultrasonic gauging equipment. In November 2001, he spun off his own company from that, and now handles technical sales for several manufacturers.

In November 2004, he bought a powerboat in Port Aransas "for a ridiculous price" and moved aboard in March 2005. The boat, Wingman, has been his home since.

An avid pilot (he flies to and from Dallas and appointments), Polewchak also owns a hangar at Mustang Beach Airport.

"This (serving on the council) is certainly a fantastic opportunity," he said. "I'm very aware that I'm appointed, not elected."

Though he indicated on his application that he would not run for a council seat in May, Polewchak said, "I do have aspirations to run."

He also has a few things on his mind.

"The airport. The airport needs parking for more planes," he said.

"There are only about three spaces on the concrete that aren't reserved. We're asking visitors to 'go four-wheeling' through grass, and that's not good."

He added, "If there were hangars available, for sure they'd be taken."

Polewchak would also like to see some improvements made at the harbor.

"The bathrooms and showers leave a lot to be desired," he said. "The heater in the women's shower needs repairing."

He notes, however, that security at the harbor has been improved.

Never married, Polewchak plans a March 31 wedding to Kelly Armstrong of Rockport.