Jim Casey has been named the editor of the Sequim Gazette effective Monday, Jan. 5.

Casey, 61, previously was senior reporter at the Peninsula Daily News. He started there in October 2004 and has covered Clallam County government, the Olympic Medical Center and the Native American tribes of central and western Clallam County.

Casey said he planned no large or sudden changes in the content or format of the Gazette.

"There's very little to fix," he said, "because nothing seems to be broken."

Sequim Gazette owner and former publisher Brown Maloney spoke with respect about Casey after the announcement.

"Jim is a well-thought-of newspaperman, capable and respected across Clallam County," he said. "He has well earned this and the Gazette is fortunate to have him."

Casey indicated he was happy to be onboard at Sequim's community newspaper.

"I am looking forward to meeting members of the community and involving myself in their events.

"I think it speaks well for the future of the Sequim Gazette in particular, for community newspapers in general, that Olympic View Publishing would fill this position," he said.

"Larger papers in larger communities - which don't enjoy such close contact with their readers - are cutting their staffs."

A native of Chicago, Casey served on weekly newspapers in Illinois and Ohio and on daily papers in Ohio, Washington and Texas. In Washington, he worked at the Everett Herald as a columnist and at the Olympian in Olympia as a features editor.

He also worked as an instructor of communications for the Southern Careers Institute in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Casey lives in Port Angeles with his wife, Dana. They plan to move into the Gazette's circulation area as soon as they can sell their home.