MOSES LAKE - Samaritan Healthcare commissioners have interviewed two candidates for the job of interim chief executive officer, and hope to have one appointed by the last week in July.

The interim will replace Andrew Bair, who resigned in June following a vote of no-confidence from some members of the medical staff. His resignation is effective Aug. 7.

Board member Julie Weisenburg said interviews were conducted with two candidates June 29, and both will be in town for on-site interviews before July 20. One is interested in just the interim appointment, but the other may apply for the permanent position, she said.

The candidates will meet with the medical staff and hospital employees, but no meeting with the public is scheduled because it's an interim appointment, Weisenburg said.

The board will appoint a committee to conduct the search for a permanent replacement, but the makeup of that committee is still to be determined, Weisenburg said. It will include Weisenburg and board member Dale Paris, representatives from the medical staff and hospital employees, she said. But no decision has been made whether or not it will include district patrons.

Weisenburg said the timeline depends on the available candidates. "We want somebody on board as soon as possible, but we want to have the right person." Board members want to hire the interim before forming a search committee, she said, so discussions on the permanent replacement should begin in early August.