When Olympic Medical Center Hospital Commissioner Ann Henninger agreed to an interview with Clallam County Watchdog, it was set to cover governance, transparency, and community trust. The interview was cancelled, but questions submitted by local residents deserve answers. Henninger is invited to respond here—or in her own words in the comments.

Olympic Medical Center is facing one of the most serious financial crises in its history — more than $70 million in reported losses since 2022, multiple leadership resignations, and growing public concern about transparency, staffing, and patient access.

As part of our ongoing series on OMC governance, CC Watchdog invited current Hospital Commissioner Ann Henninger, who is seeking re-election, to sit down for an in-depth interview addressing these issues.

Commissioner Henninger initially agreed to an interview and was gracious and communicative throughout our scheduling. However, due to unexpected work obligations and observance of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Memorial Day, she later asked to postpone. Given limited time before ballots arrive, CC Watchdog ultimately decided to move forward by publishing the questions publicly — unchanged and without commentary — so voters can see what would have been discussed.

These questions were developed with input from multiple community members, several of whom submitted thoughtful suggestions and concerns. They’ve been consolidated for clarity and flow. Commissioner Henninger is invited to respond to any or all of these questions, either in a response to this article (which would be published) or in the comments section below.

Conflicts of Interest and Ethical Concerns

* Commissioner Henninger, many people may not realize that you work for the Jamestown Tribe — a corporation that competes directly with OMC in several areas. That’s raised concerns about whether there’s a conflict of interest in serving on both sides of that relationship. How do you separate those roles and reassure voters that your loyalty is to OMC’s patients and taxpayers?

* Your husband also works at OMC. Do you see any potential conflicts when the board makes decisions that could affect staff or compensation?

* There’s also public discussion about the tribe’s growing role in healthcare and whether OMC may shift unprofitable but essential services, like primary care or psychiatry, to Jamestown, where reimbursement rates are higher. Would you see that as a good partnership or a loss for OMC?

Financial Oversight and Accountability

* Between 2022 and 2025, OMC lost more than $70 million. As board president, how closely were you monitoring those losses, and what actions did you take to reverse them?

* The interim CFO recently said that even as revenues declined, OMC continued spending heavily on new equipment and contracts. Since those expenditures require board approval, why wasn’t spending curbed sooner? Can you recall any major purchase the board rejected during that time?

* Critics have pointed out that former CEO Darryl Wolfe received satisfactory evaluations and raises despite these mounting losses. How do you explain that, and how is accountability handled now?

* Do you believe the board has the right mix of experience? Some feel it’s too heavy on political backgrounds and too light on medical and financial expertise. Would you support expanding the board’s qualifications or structure?

Leadership, Staffing, and Culture

* Following the resignations of the CEO, COO, and CFO, morale among hospital staff has reportedly dropped. How would you describe the current climate within OMC?

* Would you support board members meeting privately with frontline employees — not through surveys, but in person — to ask simple questions like: How do you feel about your job? What could make it better? What’s not working?

* OMC has also faced serious legal and regulatory issues, including a felony conviction of an ER employee, a class-action lawsuit over unpaid wages, and over 100 patient care citations this year. Do you see these as isolated incidents or evidence of a deeper cultural or management problem?

Community Trust and Access to Care

* Public confidence in OMC is low. Many residents now seek care in other cities. What is your plan to rebuild trust and improve service quality close to home?

* Wait times remain excessive — some patients report waiting months for scans or specialty appointments. What steps are being taken to improve access and efficiency?

* The hospital also lost its eligibility for the federal 340B drug discount program, which has hurt both OMC and patients financially. How did that happen, and what’s being done to fix it?

Partnerships, Private Equity, and the Path Forward

* There are persistent rumors that OMC may consider selling assets or aligning with private investors as part of a plan to attract the University of Washington. Can you clarify whether that’s under discussion, and what impact that could have on community control of the hospital?

* The proposed UW partnership is said to involve as much as $70 million in potential support, but UW Medicine is itself facing serious financial challenges. Valley Medical Center in Renton recently ended its UW affiliation for that reason. Why should anyone believe this partnership would work here when it didn’t work closer to home?

* Former CEO Wolfe suggested converting OMC into a “Critical Access Hospital,” which could bring higher reimbursements but would require cutting services and shrinking to 25 beds. Is that a viable solution?

Transparency, Taxes, and Public Confidence

* OMC has often been criticized for a lack of transparency — unrecorded meetings, closed-door discussions, and limited financial disclosure. Would you support more openness and public access to board deliberations?

* In 2024, the board championed a levy lift that doubled the hospital district tax for local homeowners. Despite that, OMC’s financial position continued to decline. How do you justify that to taxpayers?

* Finally, after years of financial losses, leadership turnover, and public distrust — why should voters re-elect you? What will be different this time?

“You get what you expect and you deserve what you tolerate.” — Mark Graban, Lean Hospitals: Improving Quality, Patient Safety, and Employee Satisfaction

A Note to Readers

Commissioner Henninger is invited to provide a written response to these questions or to join the conversation publicly. Her full answers will be published without editing whenever received.

Special thanks to the community members who submitted questions and shared input for this piece. Your engagement makes accountability possible.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ccwatchdog.com

Podcast listeners were expecting today’s scheduled audio-only interview with OMC Hospital Commissioner Ann Henninger. Unfortunately, Henninger had to cancel yesterday, citing work obligations and her wish to pause, reflect, and honor Pregnancy and Infant Loss Memorial Day. This interview will not be rescheduled.

Clallam County’s new “monthly Q&A” was supposed to make government more accessible. Instead, it’s become an excuse for silence. Commissioners brush off constituent questions while granting activists front-row access—some of whom have publicly broken the law. It’s a snapshot of how selective engagement, not open dialogue, now defines county government.

Two months into the county commissioners’ commitment to hold a monthly Q&A during the fourth Tuesday midday meeting, it’s becoming increasingly clear that while this is marketed as increased engagement, it’s being used to do the exact opposite.

At Tuesday’s commissioner meeting, a constituent used public comment to ask questions that had already gone unanswered by email—specifically, whether the board had made any progress on a request to speak with the Jamestown Tribe about contributing more to the county’s tax base.

“If you would like to ask a question, the appropriate time would be after the meeting,” advised Commissioner Mark Ozias, who also serves as the county’s tribal liaison.

While that approach may work for campaign donors like Norma Turner, in practice, it has resulted in a statement of, “You’ll have to figure that out all by yourself, but it’s not going to be from me,” as Commissioner Ozias went out the back door.

Commissioner Mike French added, “As you know, we have commissioner Q&As once a month. You could choose to ask that question at one of the Q&As.”

French, who campaigned on a promise of “robust public engagement,” now says your only chance to engage with your elected officials is once a month. In reality, these Q&As have become a justification to disengage from the public for 29 days out of 30—so they can take 45 minutes to answer a handful of questions once a month.

Who the commissioners do make time for is revealing. Earlier this month, they invited Brel Froebe, a climate activist and police abolitionist, to give a two-hour presentation on removing prime DNR timberlands from the harvest schedule. Froebe appeared via Zoom but still got a seat at the table.

Also present was Elizabeth Dunne, a legal advisor for the Earth Law Center (ELC), who played a key role in securing an injunction in Clallam County Superior Court halting the logging of 300 acres of legacy forest in and around the Elwha watershed—an injunction brought by ELC and the Legacy Forest Defense Coalition (LFDC).

The court’s order temporarily stopped all logging and road building, pending further review. ELC argued that DNR’s logging practices threaten the Elwha River ecosystem and the endangered Southern Resident orcas that depend on salmon runs restored after the historic dam removals.

It appears that the threat of litigation gets a seat at the table ahead of ordinary citizens.

Froebe and Dunne were there to discuss the Doc Holliday Timber Sale—a project disrupted by activists who were filmed by the Seattle Times while committing misdemeanors by removing and defacing DNR boundary markers.

In the footage, they enter the parcel, remove DNR survey markers, and proudly describe their actions as environmental resistance.

“There are some things more important than just obeying a law,” says Tim Wheeler in the video, as he removes a marker.

“Sorry, DNR. Not sorry,” adds Lisa Dekker.

“The goal is to have them step back a little bit, and they’re going to have to redo it—it’s going to slow them down,” says Keith Dekker.

Peter Steadman explains that all road and survey markers needed to be removed. “When you see pink, just pull it off.”

Tim Wheeler, Lisa Dekker, and Peter Steadman attended Froebe’s Doc Holliday presentation, seated comfortably in the county boardroom—the very space meant to represent law and justice.

You may recognize Tim Wheeler, who is a reporter for Communist Party USA.

He has attended Communist Party conventions across the globe.

He is also a trustee of the Clallam County Democrats.

In his online biography, he proudly recalls campaigning for Commissioner Ozias: “I must hurry. We are going out right now to do doorbelling for Mark Ozias for Clallam County Commissioner.”

After Commissioner Ozias’s proclamation this month, Wheeler posted on Facebook praising him for “rebutting all the smears and slanders” during the county’s Indigenous Peoples Day proclamation. Wheeler described critics of the proclamation as “racists” and mocked a “young MAGA” speaker who opposed favoritism toward any group.

That “young MAGA” was me—the gay vegan who’s been identified as a KKK member, removed from a volunteer position, called a monster, and had photos of my home posted online, all by members of one political party. The same political party of which Tim Wheeler is a trustee. I’m not MAGA. I’m an independent who voted for candidates from three parties last November, including RFK. But this is what happens when you question power in Clallam County.

When the leadership of one party goes out of its way to ridicule and smear citizens, something is broken. When activists who vandalize public property are welcomed and platformed—while peaceful petitioners with 1,032 signatures against a new $5 conservation tax are ignored—something is wrong.

Even more revealing are the personal ties between activists and our elected leaders.

Peter Steadman, one of the activists, owns a home built from wood—wood that came from trees. He co-owns it with Alexandria Fermanis, an employee at Olympic Peninsula Community Clinic (OPCC), which just entered into a partnership, approved by the commissioners, to treat county jail inmates for substance abuse disorders.

Fermanis drew recent criticism after posting a photo of the moment Charlie Kirk was shot in the neck, captioned, “Charlie Kirk finally leaning left on the gun issue.”

And who happens to be the immediate past president of OPCC? Commissioner Mike French.

Two days after the vandalism at the Doc Holliday parcel, these same activists delivered the stolen DNR markers to Olympia and posed proudly for a photo. These are the people being embraced and amplified by county leadership—while those who follow the rules, pay their taxes, and try to engage respectfully are told to “wait for Q&A day.”

Why would activists feel so emboldened that they could film the very crimes they’re committing—then walk straight through the front doors of the courthouse, take their seats in the county boardroom, and be welcomed by the very officials charged with following laws? It’s a question that speaks volumes about the double standard at play—especially when Commissioner Mike French himself has suggested that “property destruction is not only fine, it’s usually the only way we’ve ever seen actual change happen”.

When the county gives lawbreakers a seat at the table and shuts out taxpayers, public service has lost its way. Respect for government doesn’t come from titles or slogans—it comes from listening, fairly and equally, to the people you serve.

“You must never be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble—but never destroy property in the process.” — John Lewis

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ccwatchdog.com

Former County Commissioner Ron Richards says Clallam County is losing up to $3 million a year in tax revenue from Jamestown S’Klallam trust and exempt properties — yet county leaders refuse to even answer federal inquiries about the losses. While public safety and health programs face cuts, the County Commissioners are asking residents to raise their own taxes instead of addressing the growing tax gap.

At Monday evening’s Charter Review Commission meeting, Commissioner and former County Commissioner Ron Richards presented a detailed analysis showing what he believes to be a significant — and largely ignored — loss in county tax revenue due to tribal land exemptions.

According to Richards’ data, at least $1.1 million in property tax revenue is lost annually from about 208 parcels of land held in trust by the federal government for the benefit of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe. The figure was calculated using purchase prices and county appraisals from 2020 to 2024 — excluding the value of new construction or improvements.

But that’s just the beginning. Richards noted that additional revenue is lost from sales taxes, business and occupation taxes, vehicle license fees, and federal income taxes that do not apply to tribal entities. Factoring in these and other exemptions, he estimates the Tribe’s total tax savings at a minimum of $3 million per year — likely much more.

“Should this large figure, for a population of about 200 Clallam County citizens, be considered as sufficient savings for the Tribe and advanced as a reason to limit future additions to tribal trust lands?”— Ron Richards, Charter Review Commissioner

A County in Denial

Clallam County’s total projected revenue this year is $54.2 million, about half of which comes from property taxes. Losing $1–3 million a year in potential tax revenue is not insignificant — particularly in a region already facing funding cuts to public safety, elections, and public health.

Meanwhile, the Jamestown Tribal Corporation reportedly earned nearly $86 million last year, aided in part by tax advantages unavailable to non-tribal businesses.

County officials told KONP Radio that recent trust land conversions represented only $19,000 in lost annual property taxes on $2.1 million worth of parcels — a figure which vastly understates the true impact because it counts only new conversions, not the entire inventory of trust and exempt properties.

This is a disingenuous comparison since the county doesn’t just collect property taxes from new parcels each year — it collects them from all properties, every year. The cumulative losses matter.

Letters Never Sent

Whenever the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) considers converting land into tribal trust status, it first asks local governments for comments on the potential impacts — including lost tax revenue and changes to land-use authority.

Despite repeated opportunities, Clallam County has never submitted a formal response to the BIA regarding these conversions. Yet now, the same Board is asking residents to raise their own property taxes to cover a budget gap — avoiding difficult decisions about cutting unnecessary programs like the poet laureate initiative, boutique business grants, and luxury homeless housing amenities.

Richards’ proposed Charter amendment, if approved, would simply require the County to respond to these federal requests — ensuring transparency and accountability. Yet several charter review commissioners have resisted even this basic measure.

Tax Burden Math: A Simple Example

Commissioner Jim Stoffer, who served on Richards’ subcommittee before recently resigning from that group, claimed that removing taxable parcels from the rolls doesn’t shift the burden onto remaining property owners. That argument doesn’t hold up to basic math.

Imagine three houses in Clallam County. Each pays taxes to fund county services. If one of those houses stops paying, the schools, fire departments, and libraries don’t suddenly shrink their budgets — the other two houses simply have to cover the difference.

It’s a simple truth: when one property is removed from the tax base, everyone else pays more.

Claims of ‘Targeting’

Commissioner Alex Fane argued that Richards’ amendment targets minorities, though he did not explain how a corporation that brings in $86 million annually and dominates regional business could be considered a disadvantaged group.

This narrative — that scrutiny of tribal business practices equals racism — has become common in local government discourse, often repeated in annual proclamations condemning systemic racism by colonizers.

Charter Review Chair Susan Fisch argued that the proposed amendment unfairly targets tribes and should apply more broadly to other government land transfers, such as state parks or DNR lands. Richards clarified that his amendment already covers all entities, including federal and state acquisitions.

But there’s a key difference worth noting: state and DNR lands offer a genuine public benefit — recreation, camping, and even timber revenue that helps fund local schools and libraries. By contrast, most tribal-owned properties are closed to the public, including beaches, private gyms, private residences, and member-only facilities.

The sites that are open to everyone — the casino, the golf course, and the MAT clinic — are commercial ventures designed to generate revenue from the public, not to provide public benefit. In other words, the doors open to outsiders are the ones that bring money in.

The question isn’t whether the Tribe has the right to manage its land — it’s whether taxpayers should lose millions in potential revenue without receiving anything in return. Would you rather have Christmas lights in Blyn and press releases about “community partnerships,” or a fully staffed Sheriff’s Department? One costs more than the other, but only one keeps you safe.

A Decade of Silence

After years of inaction, the County Commissioners announced this year that they have sent a letter to the Jamestown Tribe requesting a conversation about trust land impacts. When pressed at Tuesday’s commissioner meeting, they first refused to provide an update on the letter — then admitted they’ve received no response from the Tribe after two months.

Commissioner Mark Ozias advised citizens to check future agenda packets if they want updates. The message was clear: don’t ask questions.

Ticking Clock

With only five meetings left in the Charter Review Commission’s schedule, Richards faces a race against time to advance his amendment so voters can have a say on the November 2026 ballot. The Ethics Committee, crafting an amendment to hold elected leaders accountable to the Code of Ethics, is in the same position, rushing to meet the deadline.

Commissioner Nina Sarmiento’s amendment requiring County Commissioners to hold public Q&A sessions with voters passed on Monday, and voters will likely vote on it next fall — proof, perhaps, that transparency still has a few allies left.

Security, Silence, and Spending

Meanwhile, the Commission quietly removed an agenda item to discuss private security hired for Commissioner Jim Stoffer. Emails reveal that thousands in taxpayer dollars have been allocated for Stoffer’s guard after he received criticism from the public.

That means there will be no discussion about whether Chair Fisch and Commissioner Ozias violated the Open Public Meetings Act by authorizing taxpayer-funded protection for a friend. Nor will the County explain why Administrator Todd Mielke misled the public about the policy.

Stoffer was absent Monday — but his security guard still attended, seated closest to his empty chair, and you paid for it.

“We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.” — Martin Luther King Jr.

A Fitting Symbol

That empty chair is a fitting symbol for Clallam County leadership today: no one wants to answer hard questions.

County officials demand more taxes from residents while refusing to account for millions in lost revenue, hidden decisions, and closed-door deals. Richards’ proposal doesn’t target anyone — it simply requires the government to do its job and respond when the public’s money and land are on the line.

In the end, when citizens can’t question their leaders but keep paying the price, silence becomes the most expensive thing of all.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ccwatchdog.com

Tonight marks the first of three public Budget Town Hall Meetings hosted by the Clallam County Board of Commissioners as they prepare the 2026 budget. Once again, the county faces a deficit, and the commissioners are floating tax hikes to fill it. And once again, the shortfall is the result of years of unchecked spending and a culture that rewards mistakes rather than accountability. Take a closer look at how we got here—and what it says about Clallam County’s approach to stewardship, priorities, and public trust.

A $159,000 “Small Mistake”

After years of overspending, the county is now weighing layoffs and service cuts. A year ago, commissioners approved a “budget emergency” resolution to cover a printing error by the Auditor’s Office—overseeing elections—that cost taxpayers $159,000.

According to the resolution, the Auditor’s Office “incorrectly predicted the additional cost… that should have been $66,000 instead of $17,000” and “an error in the amount of $81,000” which resulted in reprinting $159,000 worth of ballots.

Commissioner Mike French brushed it off:

“We’ve only had a presidential primary in our state for a few years… sometimes small mistakes are made.”

If a $159,000 printing error counts as a small mistake, taxpayers should wonder what qualifies as a big one.

Grants, NGOs, and Vanishing Accountability

Each week, hundreds of thousands of dollars leave county coffers for nonprofits and “partner” organizations—often with little oversight or measurable outcomes.

In September alone, $617,281 went to Peninsula Behavioral Health for a 36-unit “permanent supportive housing” project, where homeless individuals with repeated incarcerations will be given housing priority—complete with harbor views, dishwashers, and EV chargers.

Another $14,943.82 was sent to the Center for Inclusive Entrepreneurship, whose mission statement centers on “justice, inclusiveness, diversity, and equity.”While such ideals sound noble, they do little to address the economic reality of one of Washington’s most financially strained counties. Clallam’s taxpayers are effectively funding programs filtered through the lens of identity politics, not local need.

From pizza parties for drug addicts to NGO contracts, county leaders have shifted public work into private hands—shielded from transparency laws and direct voter scrutiny.

The Tribal Trust Land Question

The commissioners recently received two more notices from the Bureau of Indian Affairs regarding the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe’s intent to convert additional parcels into tribal trust land—removing them from local tax rolls permanently.

For over a decade, commissioners have declined to calculate or disclose the fiscal impact of these conversions, even when the BIA has specifically requested the data.While county leaders publicly claim to support “fairness” and “partnership,” their silence has allowed millions in taxable land to vanish from the books—shifting the cost of funding schools, hospitals, and infrastructure onto everyone else.

Only this year—facing mounting criticism—did the commissioners finally send a letter asking to “discuss” a contribution agreement. Two months later, no response. The gesture was too little, too late, and timed suspiciously close to the push for a new property tax hike.

Taxes Without a Vote

Even as the public braces for higher property taxes, Commissioners French and Ozias are signaling support for additional councilmanic taxes—those passed without a public vote.

Among them:

* A Cultural Access Tax, promoted quietly with help from arts groups like Olympic Theatre Arts; and

* A new Criminal Justice Tax was authorized by HB 2015, signed by Governor Bob Ferguson in July 2025, which allows counties to impose an extra 0.1% sales tax for “public safety” without voter approval. The commissioners are expressing support for enacting this new tax next summer.

These measures could appear suddenly—with no ballot and no public say. Bottom line: prepare to be taxed more.

Towne Road: The $1.5 Million Detour

What began as a half-mile of unfinished road became a textbook case of how influence, politics, and neglect cost taxpayers dearly.

In 2023, county staff warned that if Towne Road wasn’t completed, a crucial grant would expire—forcing local taxpayers to pay for it instead of using state funds.Rather than act, the commissioners funneled money to other projects—including grants to the Jamestown Tribe—and let the road sit closed for more than a year. When the work finally resumed, the county had to spend $1.5 million of its own funds.

That waste now echoes through the budget: critical safety fixes, such as the Old Olympic/Cays Road intersection and Three Crabs flood mitigation, remain unfunded.

A “Budget” That Tells a Story Instead of the Truth

When the long-awaited Towne Road “budget” was finally released this June, it wasn’t an accounting—it was a narrative about salmon recovery and ecological success.What was missing:

* The $500,000 that was paid by the Jamestown Tribe after county commissioners quietly rewrote a resolution absolving the Tribe of responsibility for breaching the dike ahead of schedule.

* The abandoned gate project—Commissioner Ozias’ push to install automatic, taxpayer-funded gates near a campaign donor’s property. The gates were backordered and never installed, but not before months of staff time and consultant hours were spent designing and planning them.

* And the real cost of the levy breach—closer to the $15 million bond demanded by the Jamestown Tribe, not the $2 million claimed in county reports.

* How much of that went to Shannon & Wilson, the outside consultant who profited from the planning, rework, and endless revisions? County records don’t say—and that’s the problem.

In Clallam County, budgets have become storytelling exercises, not financial reports.

The Conservation District Windfall

Last month, commissioners approved another major funding increase: $2 million over ten years for the Clallam Conservation District, disguised as a decade-long property fee. Despite limited data and measurable outcomes, the vote was rushed through on emotion and fear-based environmental rhetoric, not accurate data. It sent a clear message: special interests continue to take priority over the people who pay the bills.

Law Enforcement for Some, Not for All

Reports continue to surface of dogs running loose, calls for service going unanswered, and an understaffed jail and juvenile detention center—while politically connected individuals receive special treatment.

When Charter Review Commissioner Jim Stoffer requested private security due to criticism, thousands in county funds were quickly found to accommodate him—led by Commissioner Ozias. Meanwhile, county law enforcement staffing levels are one-third the national average.

If money can always be found for political protection, the problem isn’t a lack of funds—it’s a lack of fairness.

A Chance to Ask the Hard Questions

The county’s Budget Town Halls are an opportunity for residents to ask the questions that never seem to get answered.

Why is there always money for mistakes—but never for roads, deputies, or flood control?

Why do grants to NGOs rise as accountability falls?

And when will transparency—not politics—guide how our money is spent?

Attend a Budget Town Hall

* Port Angeles: Tuesday, October 14, 2025 – 5 p.m.Commissioner’s Board Room, 223 E. 4th Street, Port AngelesVirtual option: Zoom linkMeeting ID: 836 9266 4344 | Passcode: 12345

* Sequim: Wednesday, October 22, 2025 – 5 p.m.Guy Cole Event Center, 202 N. Blake Avenue, Sequim

* Forks: Wednesday, October 29, 2025 – 5 p.m.Forks City Hall Council Chambers, 500 E. Division Street, Forks

Public comments can be sent to Eleanor Hill, Finance Department [email protected] or the Clerk of the Board [email protected].

“Every dollar spent on a nonessential item is a dollar taken from a necessary one.” — Dwight D. Eisenhower

Closing Thought

Budgets reveal priorities—and Clallam County’s priorities aren’t lining up with the public’s.

Our leaders talk about fiscal responsibility, but they still haven’t learned to tell the difference between needs and wants.

Needs are public safety, maintained roads, and functioning infrastructure.

Wants are grant-driven projects and feel-good programs—like helping the “trans community” open a paprika store—while the Sheriff’s Office remains understaffed and rural roads go unpaved.

The only reason the county is suddenly holding town halls and asking for feedback is that they need our vote. When have we ever seen this kind of public outreach before? Last year, those same budget sessions cost $30 to attend. Now, they’re free.

Voting “no” is the only way to hold these leaders accountable. Otherwise, it’s a blank check for more of the same: excuses, overspending, and misplaced priorities.

The numbers may not lie—but they do tell a story.

It’s time taxpayers start reading between the lines.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ccwatchdog.com

The Charter Review Commission (CRC) was meant to be a beacon of democracy, refining our home-rule charter with public input. Instead, it’s a web of deception and secrecy, with blatant lies and possible Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) violations undermining trust. Public records expose a process hijacked by CRC Chair Susan Fisch and County Commissioner Mark Ozias, who prioritize private agendas over the people’s voice—while wasting taxpayer dollars as the county begs for more. Tonight’s meeting is the public’s chance to demand answers.

On September 22, 2025, Administrator Todd Mielke claimed security at CRC meetings was routine, part of a standing contract with Security Services NW, not tied to any specific request:

“Nobody directed us to do anything. If anything, what it caused us to do, is review our current policies and our current contract is with Security Services Northwest. And do a better inventory of when the public is in this building. I think a lot of people want to point to one evening that got people maybe a little tense, but that’s really not it.”

He also said:

“We continue to have a contract for security system services. It starts at 7:30 in the morning and, per the contract, is they will be available any time the public is in the building.”

Yet other public meetings, such as the Fair Advisory Board sessions, are also held after hours—like the CRC meetings—but have no security present. Mielke blamed the presence of security on a vague need to protect the courthouse.

“There’s a state law that says we must control access to the courts. So, weapons are banned in the courts. So, there’s an ongoing debate about what constitutes ‘the courts’ in any courthouse.”

Public records tell a different story.

On July 16, Commissioner Jim Stoffer emailed the CRC Executive Board, demanding security after a heated but non-threatening public comment by Eric Fehrmann. Stoffer wrote:

“The Commission has experience several disruptions… I will be taking steps to protect myself; but I urge you three as the elected Excective to take steps as well.”

That same day, Commissioner Mark Ozias escalated the request to Sheriff Brian King and Mielke, writing:

“I would appreciate it if we could do what is necessary to ensure that a security officer can be present for all future meetings of the CRC.”

By July 17, King confirmed to Security Services NW,

“I now have an additional request from the BOCC to cover future Charter Review Commission Meetings.”

CRC Chairwoman Susan Fisch sealed the deal, emailing Stoffer:

“Sheriff King is working on this and sounds confident that Northwest Security Services will be present from this point forward.”

Administrator Mielke’s testimony is a lie. The security wasn’t routine—it was a direct response to Stoffer’s complaint, arranged without public or commission input. No evidence of a threat has surfaced, yet taxpayers foot the bill for Stoffer’s private guards, as detailed in a prior article, Private Security for One Commissioner.

This deception insults residents already facing proposed tax hikes for critical services like law enforcement and public health.

OPMA Violations: Democracy Locked Out

Washington’s Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) demands transparency, requiring public bodies to deliberate openly. Fisch and Ozias ignored this, orchestrating security arrangements through private emails, bypassing the full CRC and the public. This wasn’t just a one-off—Fisch may also be considering Stoffer’s request to axe the second public comment period, again without commission approval. These secret deals violate OPMA, sidelining elected commissioners and silencing residents who deserve a voice in the charter review.

Such actions reflect a broader pattern of public exclusion. Limited Zoom access, town halls where Stoffer and Fisch forbid the public from engaging directly with elected officials, and the ignoring of ethics complaints show a process more about control than community.

Commissioner Ozias, criticized for blocking projects like the Happy Valley Gravel Pit near his home, and Chairwoman Fisch, who spent several meetings prioritizing her friend and public commenter Patrice Johnston’s request to censure a fellow commissioner while making unilateral decisions on behalf of the full CRC, appear more focused on personal agendas and political allies than on the needs of Clallam County residents.

Questions That Require Commission Discussion

These developments raise urgent questions that the full CRC needs to address:

* What specific threat did Commissioner Stoffer perceive on July 14?

* When Stoffer said he would “take steps to protect myself,” does that include carrying a weapon in a weapon-free zone?

* Why was security not present at CRC meetings before July 14 if risk was known?

* Why is security not present at all public meetings on county property if it is now deemed necessary?

* Was the OPMA violated by arranging security without deliberation or approval from the full CRC?

* Do these actions comply with CRC bylaws?

* Is Chair Susan Fisch also unilaterally removing the second public comment period at Commissioner Stoffer’s request? If so, does this also constitute a violation of OPMA and our bylaws, given that the Commission has again not been consulted?

Answering these questions is critical to restoring transparency and public trust in the charter review process.

“Revolution is not necessary. Reform is. Democracy cannot be a mere formality; it must be a living process in which the people decide, not a single individual.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt

Hypocrisy Amid Tax Hikes

The hypocrisy stings most. While the county pleads for property tax increases to fund essential services while threatening to make “painful cuts” to election integrity, law enforcement, and public health, it burns cash on Stoffer’s unneeded security. Why not have him join meetings via Zoom, a cost-free fix?

Instead, leaders cry budget woes while dodging revenue losses from untaxed lands tied to Commissioner Ozias’s donors. It’s a double standard: demand sacrifice from residents, but spend freely on private agendas.

Tonight’s meeting

The CRC meets tonight, October 13, at 5:30 p.m. in the Clallam County Courthouse Board Room (223 East 4th Street, Port Angeles—use the after-hours entrance). “CRC Security” is on the agenda. Attend in person, or virtually, and demand truth from the government you fund.

Clallam deserves a charter review that serves the public, not a select few.

Budget Town Hall This Week

The Clallam County Commissioners will hold the first of three Budget Town Halls tomorrow, offering residents a chance to review the proposed 2026 budget and ask questions (Sequim October 22, Forks October 29). The session begins with a 45-minute presentation, followed by a 75-minute public Q&A.

Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.Commissioners’ Board Room 160, 223 East 4th Street, Port AngelesAlso available virtually via Zoom.

Agenda Highlights:

* Review the 2026 Administrator Recommended Budget

* Discuss the 6-Year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)

* Public Q&A on the Budget and TIP

This is a key opportunity for residents to engage directly with county leaders about spending priorities and infrastructure plans.

Full Testimony of Administrator Todd Mielke

(September 22, 2025)

With regard to this issue, I received emails saying, ‘Could you tell me what the policy is for the county providing security in the courthouse?’ And yes, there was an evening here, maybe more than one, where I think people got a little bit excited, perhaps raised their voice, gestured, things like that, but that issue was not specific to that. It was: could you tell us what the policy is of the county for security?

There’s a state law that says we must control access to the courts. So, weapons are banned in the courts. So, there’s an ongoing debate about what constitutes ‘the courts’ in any courthouse. And so, we have been going through this, we have been talking about moving the county courthouse to a single point entry security system. That’s been going on for the entire two years I’ve been here.

Typically, security in the court building, courthouse building, is done by the Sheriff’s Office through corrections officers. We have had a significant shortage of staff in that position, and so for the last two years, the county has hired an outside security firm providing security services in the courthouse. Where that would normally have been done by corrections officers. So, we’ve been doing that. And we switched vendors here recently, about three months ago. And so, we continued to go through and explore this.

Our contract states that we will provide security — our contract with the vendor, Security Services Northwest, currently is that they will provide security services anytime the building is open to the public. In addition to that, very recently, we had the superior court bench, the presiding judge of the superior court bench, who made a proclamation under GR39, general rule— I believe it’s 39. And they have as a judicial branch, the ability to do that, where they proclaim that the entire building, not just second floor where the courtrooms are, but the entire building would be considered ‘weapons free.’

Again, so there’s this ongoing debate of, is a weapon only a gun? No, not under the statutory definition. And so, the County continues to move forward. We continue to have a contract for security system services. It starts at 7:30 in the morning and, per the contract, is they will be available any time the public is in the building. And so, it’s not specific because ‘Oh, Charter Review Commission’s meeting tonight’. It’s, ‘Do we have any public meetings in the building tonight?’

And so that is the issue, it’s for protecting the building because the idea is that someone could come in and plant a weapon and come back tomorrow. And so once again, under statutory provisions, we’re required to protect this building and the courts. So that is why they’re here. It is a public meeting. Therefore, the contract says they will participate and be available during any time the public is in the building. And so that is what we do.

But also, as we are witnessing, unfortunately, political discourse has changed greatly in the last several years. I’ve spent a lot of years as an elected official. Political discourse has changed; we’ve certainly seen it in the last couple of weeks on the national level. And so, the issue is we want to make sure people, when they come to the courthouse, feel safe. And we never know what may or may not happen. But we don’t want to be in a position to the best of our ability about saying we should have done this, or we could have done that. So, we’re doing the best we can to protect the public for participating in public meetings in this building. So that is what we’re doing.

Nobody directed us to do anything. If anything, what it caused us to do is review our current policies, and our current contract is with Security Services Northwest. And do a better inventory of when the public is in this building. I think a lot of people want to point to one evening that got people maybe a little tense, but that’s really not it.

That would be reading far, far too much into the fact that security’s been here for two years. They start at 7:30 in the morning. We’re just being much more careful, especially now that the superior court has proclaimed that this building is weapons-free and they expect the Board of County Commissioners to enforce that proclamation, so that’s what we’re doing.”

[Commissioner Ron Richards noted that the security presence was not the result of random contract enforcement, but rather a direct result of Stoffer’s requests and the subsequent email chain.]

Mielke continued: “He [Commissioner Jim Stoffer] was one of multiple people who raised the issue that they felt things crossed the line. Other people did review the video. I will say that I reviewed it a couple of times, I came to a different conclusion the second time I reviewed it than I did the first time. I know the Sheriff and some members of the Sheriff’s office reviewed it. Commissioners reviewed it. And the request to me was to work with the Sheriff to review our current policies about how we were utilizing our contracted security services at times when the public was in the building. That was the request.

But again, services were already under contract. I think the question is, ‘When and how is the contract contemplated utilizing those services?’ The contract states services will be available anytime the public is in the building… security is here to protect all of you. As well as the audience, and my staff. It’s a public meeting.

This testimony is contradicted by the email chain, which shows Stoffer requested security, Ozias relayed that request, Mielke was directly involved, and Fisch confirmed the arrangement.

Full emails

From: Stoffer, Jim

To: Fisch, Susan; Hodgson, Mark; Noble, Chris

Cc: Stoffer, Jim

Subject: CRC Meeting Procedures

Date: Wednesday, July 16, 2025 6:56:18 AM

Importance: High

Greetings Executive Board,

The Commission has experience several disruptions over the last several months during our Commission meetings. These disruptions have grown with toxi bullying harassing behavior, attacking several Commissioners with verbal threats. This is not ok, and I urge you to take action at protecting the meeting space and the proceedings.

We have no idea if some of these folks are not carrying a weopon of some sort. Each meeting is growing worse.

Recommendation:

1. We need security presence during our meetings.

2. Drop the 2nd Public Comment period from the agenda; it just opens the door to attacks and disruption.

3. When the disruption occurs, immediately call a recess, you can do that.

I will be taking steps to protect myself; but I urge you three as the elected Excective to take steps as well.

Thank You

Jim Stoffer

From: Ozias, Mark

Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2025 2:13 PM

To: Mielke, Todd ; King, Brian

Cc: Fisch, Susan

Subject: Security at CRC Meetings

Hello Todd and Brian,

I would appreciate it if we could do what is necessary to ensure that a security officer can be present for all future meetings of the CRC. If this will require additional budgetary authority from the BOCC then I will work with you to advance the necessary process.

Thank you,

Mark Ozias

From: King, Brian

Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2025 5:34 PM

To: Joe D’Amico

Subject: RE: Security Services for Clallam County Fair

Joe,

I now have an additional request from the BOCC to cover future Charter Review Commission Meetings. I still need to get those dates which are in the evenings.

Do you want me to work with Ken on that?

Brian J. King

From: Joe D’Amico

Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2025 5:53 PM

To: King, Brian

Subject: RE: Security Services for Clallam County Fair

Sheriff,

Sounds good. You can send the dates and time to me for now.

This way, I can include operations, scheduling, and billing.

Thank you,

Joe

Respectfully,

Joe D’Amico, President

Security Services NW Inc.

From: Fisch, Susan

To: King, Brian; Ozias, Mark; Mielke, Todd

Cc: Waknitz, Elizabeth

Subject: Re: Security at CRC Meetings

Date: Thursday, July 17, 2025 12:13:44 PM

All:

Thank you for working on this so quickly.

Susan Fisch

From: “Fisch, Susan”

Date: 7/17/25 12:35 PM (GMT-08:00)

To: “Stoffer, Jim” , “Hodgson, Mark”, “Noble, Chris”

Subject: Re: CRC Meeting Procedures

All:

I have been copied on emails between Commissioner Ozias and Sheriff King about

security at CRC meetings. Sheriff King is working on this and sounds confident that Northwest Security Services will be present from this point forward.

Susan

From: Mielke, Todd

Sent: Thursday, July 17, 2025 12:38 PM

To: King, Brian; Ozias, Mark

Cc: Fisch, Susan ; Waknitz, Elizabeth

Subject: RE: Security at CRC Meetings

Thank you, Brian.

I believe Security Services Northwest will need to be briefed about the nuances of differentiating between someone exercising their freedom of speech and when their messaging becomes threatening. If you get a chance, please review the video at the end of the most recent meeting and the comments/messaging by Eric Fehrmann. Several people have reviewed the video and believe this line was crossed…especially when considering the combination of shouting, swearing, calling out one of the commissioners by name, and gestures. The video would probably be a good reference in the discussion with Security Services Northwest. “Threatening a public official” is addressed in state statute and should probably be considered in preparation for attending these meetings.

Regards,

Todd

Todd Mielke

County Administrator

From: King, Brian

Sent: Thursday, July 17, 2025 12:04 PM

To: Ozias, Mark ; Mielke, Todd

Cc: Fisch, Susan ; Waknitz, Elizabeth

Subject: RE: Security at CRC Meetings

Hello everyone,

I am in conversation with Security Services Northwest and have provided them the Charter Review Commission meeting schedule for the remainder of the year. While its not “finalized” I do think they will be able to make it happen.

Given current projections I believe the Sheriff’s Office will be able to absorb these costs in jail underspend.

I will let you know once I get the final confirmation.

Brian J. King

From: Ozias, Mark

To: Mielke, Todd

Cc: King, Brian; Fisch, Susan; Waknitz, Elizabeth

Subject: Re: Security at CRC Meetings

Date: Thursday, July 17, 2025 12:56:51 PM

Thank you Brian!

Mark O

From: Stoffer, Jim

To: Fisch, Susan; Hodgson, Mark; Noble, Chris

Cc: Stoffer, Jim

Subject: RE: CRC Meeting Procedures

Date: Thursday, July 17, 2025 3:08:54 PM

Thank you

Jim Stoffer

From: Mielke, Todd

Sent: Monday, July 21, 2025 1:43 PM

To: French, Mike; Johnson, Randy; Ozias, Mark; Cc: Gores, Loni; Boughton, Dee; Reno, Jay ; King, Brian

Subject: FW: Security at CRC Meetings

Hi everyone,

Commissioner Ozias forwarded this information (please see the link in his e-mail) to me and I thought it might be a worthwhile conversation to have given the amount of public testimony we receive at a variety of County meetings and the apparent increasing intensity of public comment at the Charter Review Commission meetings.

Please let me know if you would like me to explore this further, and if we should schedule this for a Work Session perhaps in August.

Thank you,

Todd

Todd Mielke

County Administrator

From: Ozias, Mark <[email protected]>

Sent: Thursday, July 17, 2025 3:18 PM

To: Mielke, Todd <[email protected]>

Subject: RE: Security at CRC Meetings

Todd, perhaps it would be helpful for us to establish some more formal rules:https://mrsc.org/stay-informed/mrsc-insight/july-2020/when-1st-amendment-rights-public-meetings-clash

Mark Ozias

Clallam County Commissioner

From: Gores, Loni

To: Cc: Subject: Date: Mielke, Todd; French, Mike; Johnson, Randy; Ozias, Mark

Boughton, Dee; Reno, Jay; King, Brian

RE: Security at CRC Meetings

Monday, July 21, 2025 2:05:30 PM

Here is the link to the video. The comment started at 3:43:05 into the video.

https://clallamcowa.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3116/media

From: Johnson, Randy

To: Mielke, Todd

Subject: RE: Security at CRC Meetings

Date: Monday, July 21, 2025 2:44:10 PM

As I stated earlier, I believe that we need security at the meetings due to instances like this.

Todd,

Randy

From: Mielke, Todd

To: Johnson, Randy

Subject: RE: Security at CRC Meetings

Date: Monday, July 21, 2025 3:10:56 PM

Hi Randy,

In the last comments I received from the Sheriff, I believe the Sheriff’s Office has now advised our security firm to be present at the CRC meetings. I’m expecting to see someone starting at the next meeting.

The link forwarded by Commissioner Ozias provides suggestions on how we can update County policy regarding “acceptable behavior” in public meetings. The MRSC information gives guidance on how to balance preserving a person’s right to free speech with maintaining order at meetings. It suggests including language to clarify prohibited ‘actions’, such as “raising your voice”, “yelling”, “aggressive gestures”, “singling out an individual” versus addressing your comments to the overall body, etc.

My question to the BOCC is whether you would like to have a discussion during a Work Session about updating County policy utilizing some of the suggestions and language presented by MRSC, including more specific language regarding acceptable versus unacceptable behavior/communication.

Thank you,

Todd

From: Mielke, Todd

To: Dennler, Bonnie

Subject: FW: Security at CRC Meetings

Date: Tuesday, July 22, 2025 8:56:24 AM

Attachments: image001.png

Good morning, Bonnie.

I’m forwarding this as an FYI. It would involve updating our county policy regarding public meetings,

specifically addressing allowable behavior at public meetings by both the audience and participants.

There’s a link in the e-mail from Commissioner Ozias that you might want to take a look at when you

have time. It’s guidance that attempts to balance First Amendment rights with the ability to maintain

decorum in meetings. It suggests specific language in the policy such as prohibiting certain

‘behaviors’ such as raising one’s voice, shouting, aggressive gestures, addressing the ‘body’ versus

any individual, etc.

Commissioner Ozias appears to be suggesting that we update our policy and make it more specific.

I’m hoping to solicit input from the other two.

Regards,

Todd

Todd Mielke

From: Shore, Lorraine

Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2025 8:56 AM

To: Mielke, Todd

Cc: King, Brian

Subject: Security request for Charter Review

Hi Todd,

Jim Stouffer 360-775-XXXX called and requested security at their Charter Review Commission meetings. He said he feels threatened by public commenters who have used profanity directed at him during the meetings. He feels Loni is in a poor position if a safety issue arises. I told him I would pass on his concerns to you as the BOCC would have to make the decision whether to provide security. He would like you to give him a call to discuss this. Let me know if there is anything you need from me.

Thank you,

Lorraine Shore, Undersheriff

From: Gores, Loni <[email protected]>

Sent: Tuesday, September 2, 2025 1:14 PM

To: Biasell, Elizabeth <[email protected]>

Subject: RE: Charter review meetings

Charter Review is held on the second and fourth Monday of each month starting at 5:30 p.m. The meetings have lasted between from 1 to 4 hours this year (so far).

The Charter Review Commission is authorized until December 31, 2025.The August 28 meeting was 58 minutes long. So, from 5:30-6:30. Here is the link for the recording for that meeting that shows the meeting was only 1 hour long NOT 2 hours.

https://clallamcowa.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3119/media

The August 11 meeting was 46 minutes long. Here is the link for that recording: https://clallamcowa.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3118/media So again it was only 1 hour long NOT 2.

I’m not sure if they get paid for the time, they wait for the meeting to start or not (4:30-5:30 p.m.). I guess that is probably in their contract.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ccwatchdog.com

Five years after warning that housing affordability was nearing a breaking point, Clallam County’s commissioners are still blaming the crisis—while quietly fueling it. Guest contributor Jake Seegers notes that as home prices soar, the commissioners have backed policies transferring over 50,000 acres from private ownership into state, corporate, and conservation control. From Meta-funded carbon forests to taxpayer-financed easements, land once supporting local families and businesses is being locked away in the name of “climate” and “sustainability.” The result? A shrinking land base, record prices, and leaders determined to conserve everything—except affordability.

By Jake Seegers, guest contributor

On September 16, 2020, the Charter Review Commission sent a letter urging the Clallam County Board of Commissioners to take immediate action on housing affordability.

Since then, home prices have surged roughly 50 percent, according to estimates from the Washington Center for Real Estate Research and Redfin. During a July 8 board meeting, Commissioner Randy Johnson conceded that the problem has only grown worse:

“In Clallam County, it continues to rise to probably the No. 1 issue for most county residents — the shortage of housing, and/or the affordability of housing, and/or the percentage of one’s income that one needs to allocate to help pay for housing.”

Yet, even as they acknowledge the crisis, all three commissioners continue to champion conservation policies that steadily remove land from private ownership.

In the past five years alone, more than 50,000 acres — over 11% of Clallam’s 437,600-acre private land base — have been absorbed into conservation holdings.

The Doc Holliday Dilemma

Twenty-five miles west of Port Angeles, a sharp bend on Highway 112 marks a familiar milestone for local surfers — Twin Rivers Beach and its clean waves are just ahead.

Directly south of that bend lies Doc Holliday Unit 5 — timberland owned and managed by Washington State’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Webster Logging, the sole bidder in DNR’s Doc Holliday timber auction, was awarded Unit 5 as part of a larger state-managed harvest.

But on August 24, 2024, state land — and the contractual rights of a local logging company — were violated. Protesters entered the sale area, stripped DNR boundary markers and placards, and later delivered them to DNR headquarters in Olympia, along with a letter of protest.

Removing or defacing DNR boundary markers is a misdemeanor under RCW 76.48.150, yet the activists appeared to gain influence rather than face consequences.

Instead of facing accountability, their tactics earned an audience with an ally when Commissioner Mark Ozias invited Brel Froebe, Director of the Center for Sustainable Forestry, to deliver a two-hour presentation during the October 6, 2025, work session. Froebe proposed a “replacement sale option” that would place 45 acres of Doc Holliday into permanent conservation.

The “Replacement” Mechanism

The proposal relies on funding from the Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) account, created under Washington’s 2021 Climate Commitment Act.

The Climate Commitment Act (CCA) compels the state’s largest carbon-emitting industries — refineries, utilities, manufacturers, and large landfills — to purchase a shrinking annual supply of carbon allowances. Think of it as an ever-increasing tax on essential services. As those costs rise, utilities and businesses pass them directly to customers.

The CCA didn’t just drive up utility bills — it helped make Washington’s gasoline the most expensive in the nation.

A portion of the auction revenue flows to DNR’s NCS account, which then uses those dollars to purchase private timberland to replace acreage removed from harvest through conservation.

In effect, Washington residents bear the burden of rate hikes on energy and fuel, while DNR uses those proceeds to bid against private buyers for land — driving up timberland prices and, ultimately, the cost of homeownership.

The commissioners have already supported similar efforts for NCS-funded replacements for DNR’s Shore Thing and Power Plant units. Whether they move forward with Froebe’s Doc Holliday proposal remains to be seen.

The Economic Backfire

If commissioners approve the Doc Holliday replacement plan, DNR will need to purchase roughly 90 acres of new timberland — double the 45 acres removed — to maintain or grow trust revenue.

During the work session, Commissioner Mike French remarked that these replacement purchases should focus on parcels “at risk of conversion” — real-estate shorthand for developable land:

“If we’re targeting acres and bringing them into the trust, we should be doing that from a standpoint of: ‘How do we prevent conversion?’”

But shifting privately held, buildable land into state ownership shrinks the supply. And when supply shrinks while demand stays constant, prices rise and affordability declines — the very opposite of the commissioners’ stated housing goals.

Preserving 45 acres of mature forest may sound noble, but the consequence is a tighter land market and steeper barriers for working families trying to buy a home.

The Conservation Futures Machine

In 2019, Commissioners Johnson and Ozias established a new Conservation Futures Tax, setting the levy at $0.0275 per $1,000 of assessed value.

In May 2025, the board unanimously committed $1.5 million from that fund to the North Olympic Land Trust (NOLT) for conservation easements on 172 acres at Cameron Farm Estates and Heifer Farm.

NOLT now manages, owns, or holds easements on roughly 3,900 acres countywide. Conservation land or land controlled by conservation easements typically qualify for significantly reduced property taxes or outright exemption under RCW 84.34 and RCW 84.36.260. That shifts the burden of funding things like schools, libraries, hospitals, and county government onto other taxpayers.

The Meta Forest

NOLT’s footprint, however, pales beside the scale of modern “climate-finance” conservation.

In early 2025, EFM Investments, a Portland-based “climate-smart forestry” firm, purchased 37,000 acres in Clallam County as part of a 68,000-acre Olympic Peninsula portfolio backed by Meta, Facebook’s parent company.

That acquisition — motivated by carbon-credit markets — effectively transferred tens of thousands of acres from private, harvestable management into corporate-offset conservation.

In letters of support, commissioners have advocated for EFM’s unquenchable appetite for private forestland.

The Expanding Conservation Empire

EFM began as a branch of Portland’s EcoTrust, and its reach into Clallam County is far from small. Through EcoTrust Forests III, LLC, it owns more than 4,000 acres locally—plus another 2,350 acres under the name LC Restoration, LLC.

And they aren’t alone.

Although not directly endorsed by the commissioners, The Nature Conservancy—which boasts of conserving 125 million acres worldwide—has quietly acquired nearly 2,000 acres of prime Hoh River frontage right here in Clallam County.

Together, these holdings represent a growing shift of local land into institutional and corporate control, often financed by out-of-state investors and international carbon markets.

So when housing affordability is at an all-time low, and homeownership remains out of reach for many Clallam residents, the question practically asks itself:

Why have our commissioners embraced the wholesale transfer of private lands to mega-corporations, global climate interests, and state agencies—entities that use taxpayer-funded programs to bid against the very taxpayers who fund them?

“We live in a world in which courage is in less supply than genius.” — Peter Thiel

The Bigger Picture

Despite acknowledging that housing affordability is Clallam County’s top issue, the commissioners continue to applaud policies that erode the private land base.

From local farmland easements to 200 million dollar carbon-motivated acquisitions, every new conservation deal removes taxable, buildable land from circulation — tightening the market and raising the cost of living.

It’s a paradox that shouldn’t be lost on voters: the more land our leaders protect, the fewer residents can afford to call Clallam County home.

Last Sunday, Jake Seegers asked readers if they believe Clallam County has a revenue problem or a spending problem. Of 183 votes:

* 85% said, “Spending problem”

* 2% said, “Revenue problem”

* 14% said, “Both”

* No one said, “Neither / unsure”

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ccwatchdog.com

Public frustration is rising in Port Angeles after revelations that City Councilmember LaTrisha Suggs’s reelection campaign is heavily financed by special interests and the Jamestown Corporation. Tribal official Paula Allen has leapt to her defense — not by addressing policy, but by invoking family lineage and heritage. In a city losing industry, jobs, and trust, residents are asking why representation seems to serve the few instead of the many.

Social media erupted last month after it was revealed that Port Angeles City Councilmember LaTrisha Suggs’s campaign for reelection is being bankrolled by Seattle-based activists and special interest donors, alongside a major contribution from the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe.

While many residents voiced concern about the growing influence of outside money and sovereign interests in local races, others defended Suggs. One commenter wrote:

“I think living in a tribal community, representation matters. Her voice is needed… Did we look at where all the candidates get their money or just the native woman?”

That question was easily answered: Suggs’s opponent, James Taylor, has reported $0.00 in campaign funding, according to the Public Disclosure Commission. The funding imbalance is clear — and it highlights how far removed local elections have become from grassroots democracy.

Defending Influence Through Ancestry

Among Suggs’s loudest defenders is Paula Allen, Director of Leadership Development and Guest Services for the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe and 7 Cedars Resort. The Tribe — which donated significantly to Suggs’s campaign — is a sovereign nation that operates businesses exempt from many local and state taxes, yet has become increasingly active in shaping local politics.

Allen publicly defended the Tribe’s involvement, writing:

“It’s true, donations reach across the olypen…and I have to say, I am loving all the salmon restoration across the olypen as well…”“Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe just gave around $75,000 to north, central, and south Kitsap schools...I didn’t see any complaints about that ‘influence.’”

But the comparison doesn’t hold up.

The Tribe’s charitable giving — while commendable — comes without paying property, sales, and excise taxes that fund those same public services. Their “contributions” amount to a small fraction of what other businesses and residents are required to pay.

As one commenter put it:

“I’ll give $5,000 to schools this year. It’s through my property tax. Where are the accolades for taxpayers who support our schools every single time they pay property taxes?”

Allen’s reply — “Good for you! Me too, before I sold my home!” — struck many as dismissive. People aren’t asking for praise. They’re asking for a level playing field and leaders who serve everyone, not just those with tax-exempt status or political connections.

When Heritage Becomes a Shield

Allen later doubled down, writing:

“I’ve been told you all are not worth my time… my ancestors took care of this land and so will I…. where did your ancestors walk? Do you even know?”

That comment echoed the same theme running through Suggs’s own campaign — that ancestral roots grant special insight or legitimacy to govern.

In her campaign materials and a feature published in the Jamestown Tribe’s monthly newsletter, Suggs emphasizes her heritage as a Jamestown S’Klallam citizen, claiming “intergenerational knowledge” as a unique qualification for city leadership.

But after years on the City Council, the city’s condition tells another story:

* The Mckinley Paper Mill closed, cutting one of the last major industrial employers and losing nearly 200 jobs.

* Platypus Marine — a major ship repair and marine business — is locked in an expensive legal battle with the city over its treatment of local industry.

* Downtown businesses continue to struggle, and crime remains a growing concern.

The record doesn’t show ancestral wisdom improving Port Angeles — it shows a city in decline while leadership focuses on lineage, symbolism, and special interests.

A Council Focused on the Wrong Priorities

In her official campaign statement, Suggs outlines her top priority:

“As a council member, my priority is preserving the City’s sole source of water (Elwha River). Through partnerships with the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, Washington State Land Commissioner, and State legislatures, we can preserve legacy forests along the Elwha Watershed and protect them from harvests…”

Protecting the Elwha watershed may be admirable, but for most residents, the crisis isn’t in the forest — it’s in the economy, housing, and public safety.

Instead of focusing on job creation or rebuilding the city’s tax base, Suggs has aligned Port Angeles policy with tribal and state environmental agendas — and even national debates over gun control, immigration, and energy. These hot-button issues may win points with political allies, but they do little to address the day-to-day realities of working families.

Even Suggs’ closing line —

“to represent our ancestors in a leadership capacity, and strengthen Tribal government relations”

Suggests her loyalty lies more with her sovereign nation than with the voters who pay city taxes.

That’s not representation — that’s conflict of interest.

The Allen Dynasty — and the Leadership Paradox

The connection between Suggs and Allen extends beyond social media. The Jamestown Tribe’s September 2025 newsletter dedicates six pages in announcing that the upcoming Honoring Our Elders Luncheon will celebrate the Allen family — including Ron Allen, Jerelyn Allen (Paula Allen’s mother), Jeff Allen, Jerry Allen, and Robin Allen — for their “many contributions” to the Tribe and community.

Ron Allen is the CEO of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, one of the most powerful figures in the region.

Paula herself serves as Director of Leadership Development and Guest Services for the Tribe and 7 Cedars Resort, and also runs a business called Allen Academy LLC, which promotes “holistic leadership” and “empowering teams through resilience and adaptability.”

According to her company’s website:

“At Allen Academy LLC, we believe that effective leadership is the cornerstone of any successful organization… Our mission is to empower teams through a holistic approach to leadership development.”

That philosophy sounds admirable — but it clashes sharply with Allen’s online conduct.

Instead of modeling inclusive, thoughtful leadership, she has belittled residents raising legitimate questions about fairness, dismissed concerns over political influence as ignorance, and invoked ancestry and privilege rather than accountability or dialogue.

For someone who teaches “transformational leadership,” it’s a striking contradiction — a case study in how titles and slogans mean little without humility, respect, or results.

“People think a leader shows strength by flexing power. True strength is shown by serving others.” — John C. Maxwell

The Bigger Picture

Port Angeles residents deserve leaders who focus on jobs, fairness, and accountability — not those who use ancestry or privilege as a shield against criticism.

When campaign money comes from tax-exempt sovereign entities, and when allies in those same organizations use heritage as political justification, the line between public service and private agenda gets blurred.

Leadership isn’t about who walked here first. It’s about who’s walking beside the people now — taxpayers, workers, and families trying to keep this city alive.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ccwatchdog.com

This week’s developments across Clallam County highlight a growing concern among residents — that local leaders are prioritizing political comfort and selective causes over public accountability. From talk of layoffs and tax increases to closed-door meetings, selective inclusivity, and costly projects with little oversight, the pattern is clear: public trust is eroding.

A tax hike, a threat, and a trust deficit

As Clallam County Commissioners press for a property tax increase, they’ve warned of “painful cuts” to public safety, public health, and elections if voters reject it. At the same time, the Board announced that by using reserve funds and reallocating money from a now-stalled Dungeness River reservoir project, the County may not face a deficit.

Commissioners have tied budget stability to voter approval, suggesting layoffs of 25 county employees if the measure fails — a tactic some residents see as unnecessary fearmongering. Critics argue that warning of law enforcement cuts while funding less essential programs, such as a poet laureate initiative or private security for a single Charter Review Commissioner, sends the wrong message.

The approach has left many feeling that fear, not transparency, is driving the conversation. When government leaders predicate basic services on tax approval while refusing to consider leadership pay cuts or administrative reductions, it’s difficult to claim shared sacrifice.

Poetry and policy: When inclusion excludes

A Peninsula College event marking Indigenous Peoples’ Day is raising questions about inclusivity in taxpayer-funded spaces. The upcoming poetry reading, sponsored by the North Olympic Library System, Peninsula College, and the Port Angeles Friends of the Library, will feature Indigenous poet Rachel Sullivan-Owens and allow only Native poets to read during the open mic session.

Organizers describe the event as a celebration of culture and heritage, but critics see a contradiction — public institutions are expected to promote diversity, not exclusion. In a county that funds both the college and library through public dollars, the decision to limit participation based on ancestry invites a broader debate about equality in civic spaces.

Efforts to uplift one group should not come at the expense of another. True inclusivity honors all voices, rather than replicating the divisions it seeks to address.

Commissioner Ozias and the question of transparency

Commissioner Mark Ozias’ recent absence from in-person duties has prompted renewed scrutiny over transparency in county government. For over a week, Commissioner Ozias attended meetings virtually while refusing to clarify who he met with or where he was conducting official business.

Public records list only “CMO Virtual,” offering no details about his activities. Past records show Commissioner Ozias traveling to Olympia in his capacity as Vice President of the Washington State Association of Counties — a group that lobbies for higher county taxes — and to Washington, D.C., to explore transferring county park management to tribal authorities.

As the county asks voters for higher property taxes, residents are questioning whether they deserve more disclosure from their elected officials. Public service, after all, comes with a public obligation: transparency in how time — and trust — are spent.

A shifting image: Commissioner French’s contradictions

At a recent public forum, Commissioner Mike French voiced skepticism toward expanding rural noise ordinances, saying, “I think people should be able to do what they want with their private property in rural regions, and so I don’t like the idea of more layers of regulation for rural people.” Yet as a board member of the Olympic Regional Clean Air Agency, Commissioner French recently supported a proposal requiring rural residents to obtain burn permits for yard waste — a move that would increase regulation in precisely the areas he claimed to be protecting.

For many rural residents without internet access or waste services, burning remains their only affordable disposal option. The proposed “free” permit would still introduce bureaucracy to a basic rural necessity.

French’s newfound responsiveness at public meetings — after years of dismissing constituent concerns as “micromanaging” and not of interest to him — has not gone unnoticed. With a likely bid for re-election next year, voters are left to decide whether this engagement marks genuine change or political convenience.

A call for integrity: Marolee Smith Dvorak’s perspective

In a recent Substack essay, Port Angeles City Council candidate Marolee Smith Dvorak reflected on the philosophical and financial challenges of running for local office. Drawing from Oswald Spengler and Friedrich Nietzsche, she questioned whether democracy has become a system controlled by money rather than merit.

Dvorak highlighted the stark funding disparities between candidates — noting that some incumbents have received thousands in donations from political organizations and outside interests, while grassroots candidates often raise nothing. She urged voters to examine campaign finance records and ask why non-local donors or tribal entities are investing in city elections.

Her essay underscored a central point: public service should be about integrity and independence, not influence. For voters seeking a return to local accountability, Dvorak’s message resonates — leadership should be earned, not bought.

Restoring transparency at City Hall: James Taylor’s proposal

City Council candidate James Taylor has called for stronger safeguards against the misuse of “late agenda” items at Port Angeles City Council meetings. Taylor points out that these items — intended for true emergencies — have increasingly been used for symbolic proclamations and policy statements without public notice.

When such items appear at the last minute, citizens lose the opportunity to comment or prepare input, leading to one-sided discussions and eroding public confidence. Taylor proposes clear standards requiring council members to justify any late addition as an urgent matter tied to public safety, legal compliance, or financial protection.

By reinforcing transparency, Taylor argues, the Council can restore public trust and ensure decisions are made with full community participation — not convenience or political expedience.

Concerns rise over public safety in Sequim parks

Reports from Sequim residents highlight growing unease about safety in local parks. A recent incident at Carrie Blake Park involved a man allegedly waving a machete near children participating in a youth orchestra program. Police were called, but the suspect left before officers arrived.

“We saw a man waving a machete at Carrie Blake park yesterday. The children from the kids Orchestra noticed him walking through the band shell buildings. The police were called but by the time an officer showed up the man had “disappeared”. Stay safe Sequim……they are everywhere these days!!!

My daughter described him as a 40-50 year old dirty guy who was large and husky, almost bald, wearing a silver chain and a gold chain, with an oversized Carhartt jacket where he had the machete stashed. He was walking down the breezeway when the kids were going in for Orchestra practice. He wasn’t mean or menacing to the kids but apparently was outside waving the hidden machete around enough to draw attention and a lady saw him and called the police.”

While no injuries occurred, the event underscores concerns about declining public safety and the broader consequences of lenient drug and crime policies. Sequim families are voicing frustration that parks, once viewed as safe community spaces, are becoming unpredictable.

Community vigilance — and responsive policing — will be key to maintaining public confidence as local leaders debate priorities and resources.

Low-barrier housing in Sequim: Promise or peril?

Clallam County Commissioners are preparing to approve $1 million in public funding for a Serenity House redevelopment project in Sequim, intended to replace the aging Sunbelt Apartments with a new 36-unit, low-barrier permanent supportive housing complex that will not require sobriety. The facility would serve residents earning below 30% of the area’s median income, including those with disabilities or experiencing chronic homelessness.

The $12 million project would yield a net gain of just 16 new units after the current 16 are demolished—an estimated $750,000 per unit gained. Critics question whether this represents an effective use of taxpayer resources.

Serenity House’s past operations have drawn scrutiny. In Port Angeles, its low-barrier facility, The Tempest, was eventually shuttered after hundreds of police calls, multiple fires, and repeated complaints about unsafe and unsanitary conditions—including reports of residents defecating from upper-story windows onto sidewalks below.

In Sequim, the Sunbelt Apartments—which the new project is intended to replace—has also seen serious incidents, including an unsolved murder inside the complex. These events have fueled concerns among residents and business owners that the redevelopment could replicate the same problems under a more expensive and publicly funded model.

Supporters of the project say it reflects a compassionate commitment to addressing homelessness. Critics counter that compassion without accountability and results can come at too high a cost—both financially and for neighborhood safety.

Sequim Gazette recognized amid editorial bias concerns

The Sequim Gazette recently received a General Excellence award from the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association. Editor Kathy Cruz, who also oversees special sections for Sound Publishing’s Olympic News Group, earned individual recognition as well.

While the Gazette’s staff deserve credit for their work, some community members note that the paper’s editorial decisions appear increasingly selective — offering monthly columns from County Commissioner Mark Ozias while limiting space for dissenting perspectives or challengers. As local media consolidate under regional ownership, the public’s access to balanced coverage remains an open question.

Celebrating excellence should not mean overlooking bias. A healthy press, like a healthy democracy, thrives on open dialogue and diverse voices.

Unsafe intersections and unanswered questions

Multiple serious accidents occurred this week at intersections along Old Olympic Highway, including Cays, MacLeay, and Kitchen-Dick Roads. County officials say they are seeking grants to study the problem, but meaningful infrastructure improvements remain years away.

Residents are reminded of the Board of Commissioners' earlier decision to redirect state grant funds to the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe rather than complete the Towne Road realignment project, forcing the County to spend $694,978.56 from its Road Fund to finish the work. Public records show the decision cost taxpayers at least $1.5 million in lost opportunities and additional expenses.

As ballots arrive asking residents to raise their property taxes, many are asking a fair question: why should the public pay more when accountability remains unpaid?

“The very word ‘secrecy’ is repugnant in a free and open society.” — John F. Kennedy

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When Sheriff Brian King told the County Commissioners that Clallam County has just 0.8 deputies per 1,000 residents—far below the national average of 2.4—it wasn’t just a statistic, it was an explanation. From convicted felons to sex offenders who fail to register, our county has become a magnet for those escaping justice elsewhere. The question isn’t how they get here—it’s why we keep letting them stay.

A safe harbor for the wrong people

Clallam County continues to be a refuge for those running from the law. Sheriff King reported during a recent work session that Clallam County has 0.8 deputies per 1,000 residents, far below the national average of 2.4. Washington State ranks dead last in law enforcement per capita—51st out of 50 states plus D.C.

The result? A county that’s struggling to keep up with its own criminal population, while becoming a landing spot for offenders from across the region.

From “Abducted in the Woods” to the jailhouse

On September 29, 26-year-old Jacob Oen was booked into Clallam County Jail for a Department of Corrections interstate compact violation.

Just four months earlier and nearly 500 miles away, Oen had made headlines in Pend Oreille County after hosting a rave-style event called “Abducted in the Woods” at a rural property outside Newport, WA. Deputies responded to repeated noise complaints after the music—advertised as a “transformative festival of EDM, elevation, and energetic alignment”—continued through the night despite citations and warnings.

Sheriff Glenn Blakeslee said the festival could be heard more than a mile away and had no permit. Oen was arrested and briefly held on a $500 bond.

Supporters later launched a GoFundMe page explaining that “All the greats have rap sheets,” raising $1,377 to help with his legal expenses—while vowing to keep the “Abducted” parties going.

Now, Oen has resurfaced in Clallam County custody. It raises the question: why do offenders from other counties and even states find their way here—and stay?

From Fresno to Port Angeles: Another “local” headline

On October 6, Christopher Michael Asher, 59, was booked into the Clallam County Jail on multiple felony charges:

* Forgery

* Identity Theft

* Theft of a Motor Vehicle

* Fugitive from Justice in Another State

In 2023, Fresno County, California detectives had arrested Asher for an elaborate auto theft and finance scam. He allegedly forged a dealer’s license using another man’s identity, sold vehicles he didn’t own, and scammed victims out of thousands. His bail in Fresno was set at $117,000—which he posted before disappearing.

On May 19, deputies seized a stolen car from Asher’s home in Port Angeles. He handed over the keys and admitted he hadn’t paid for the vehicle from Koenig Subaru. Despite this, he remained free in the community for months. The case was referred to the Clallam County Prosecutor’s Office with probable cause for theft of a motor vehicle and forgery — yet Asher was still active around Port Angeles until October, when authorities in Fresno, California contacted local law enforcement about his ongoing fraud cases.

Asher is another imported criminal, one of many who’ve figured out that Clallam County’s soft landing makes it a good place to hide out or start over.

Even the Sheriff’s Office admitted that Asher’s history spans multiple states and convictions. Fresno detectives said there are likely more victims who haven’t yet realized they’ve been scammed.

The familiar face of failure: A transient sex offender

Then there are the transients—those who drift from city to city with no fixed address.

On October 3, Lynn Charles Allen, age 65, was booked into Clallam County Jail on a felony bench warrant. His record includes:

* Child molestation (third degree)

* Communication with a minor for immoral purposes

* Repeated failures to register as a sex offender

According to his sex offender registry profile, “Allen has a history of sexually offending against minors ages 3 months to 18 years.” That means one of his victims was just a three-month-old infant — a horrifying reminder of how dangerous repeat offenders like Allen can be when left unmonitored.

Allen’s past convictions date back to 2003, and his victims include three known juvenile males. Though previously registered in Spokane, offender databases list him as “transient, Port Angeles, WA 98362.”

Locals may recognize Allen from his association with a black spray-painted RV, often stationed near public parks and known drug hotspots. He’s been heard on local scanners and frequently listed as “failure to register” in eastern Washington—yet continues to roam freely here.

“Bureaucrats and politicians love crises because they can claim to be the only ones capable of solving them.” – Nassim Nicholas Taleb

A county at the crossroads

When offenders from across the region can settle in Clallam County without consequence, that’s not an accident—it’s a policy failure.

A chronic lack of deputies, minimal state support, and a justice system more focused on “rehabilitation” than protection have created a perfect storm. Instead of prioritizing public safety, the system seems designed to absorb offenders who’ve worn out their welcome elsewhere.

As Sheriff King’s numbers made clear, Clallam County isn’t just under-resourced—it’s undefended. And while the commissioners debate climate resolutions and proclamations, the real crisis—the safety of our residents—keeps getting pushed aside.

And now the County Commissioners are dangling the fear of cuts to public safety, threatening to axe deputies if voters don’t approve a property tax hike — all while finding money for a poet laureate, pizza for drug addicts, and private security for Charter Review Commissioner Jim Stoffer.

“Please support the modest Clallam County general fund levy lid lift this November so we can maintain service across all departments, from Sheriff’s deputies to Public Health to Community Development to elections. The county has worked very hard to cut costs and build efficiencies, but without additional support from you, we will be forced to consider additional painful cuts.” — Commissioner Mark Ozias

Until Clallam County prioritizes law enforcement staffing and holds offenders accountable, we’ll remain a magnet for fugitives, fraudsters, and predators. The people who play by the rules deserve a county that protects them—not one that shelters those who don’t.

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From rising property taxes and tribal land exemptions to city bureaucracy blocking business growth, Clallam County residents are seeing firsthand how accountability often falls short. This collection exposes hypocrisy, fiscal mismanagement, and decisions that favor insiders over taxpayers, while highlighting candidates and community voices working to restore common sense and public trust.

Former senator’s irony on property taxes

Former state senator and representative Kevin Van de Wege commented on a recent Facebook discussion about rising property taxes, noting that senior citizen exemptions cost far more than tribal trust land exemptions—without providing any numbers.

The irony is striking: Van de Wege is a Captain at Clallam County Fire District 3, a department funded by the very property taxpayers whose bills are increasing.

A recent levy raised that portion of their taxes by 35%, yet tribal land held in trust remains exempt. Meanwhile, the funds saved by these exemptions can be funneled into political campaigns, including Van de Wege’s own.

This situation highlights the ongoing tension between taxpayer-funded services and political interests benefiting from exemptions that shift costs onto the broader public.

Healthcare access failing residents

A CC Watchdog subscriber recently shared a troubling experience: after years with the same doctor, they were informed by Olympic Medical Center that they must choose from three non-doctors or have one assigned to them. The patient has several serious conditions, including lung nodules that could develop into cancer, and has been unable to secure a doctor for five years.

“Well. I was served notice from OMC that I will no longer have a doctor and must pick from these 3 non doctors. Or they will pick one for me. I have been denied a doctor for 5 years since Dr oaks quit and went to the native clinic in Sequim. And the Native Clinic refused to let me join their clinic and Continue seeing my doctor. I am disabled and have several conditions that need care including lung noduals that may turn to cancer. I give up. I have been with this doctors clinic since birth 64 years ago. I have decided I will not continue to seek any treatments and let Gods will be what it is. I’m pretty tired of the fight for my health.”

This points to a larger issue: as the hospital struggles financially, experienced staff are leaving, and the community bears the fallout. Meanwhile, residents face restricted access to fully licensed physicians—MDs or DOs with independent practice authority—replaced by physician assistants or nurse practitioners, who, while highly skilled, do not always provide the same scope of independent care.

The situation underscores the human cost of mismanagement and financial instability in local healthcare.

Dungeness River disaster: A tie to Suggs

In spring 2022, the Jamestown Tribe breached the Dungeness River dike ahead of schedule, threatening the community with a potential mass casualty event. County staff identified a $200,000 solution to secure flood protection, but the Tribe refused and demanded a $15 million bond instead.

Emails from county staff show tense negotiations and a lack of resolution, with the resulting solution far exceeding the county’s estimate. LaTrisha Suggs, then a Tribal restoration planner and current Port Angeles City Council candidate, was involved in pushing for this expensive solution.

In an email, county staffer Cathy Lear, who was managing the project, wrote:

It turned out to be a long session. BOCC ultimately rejected the bid but obviouslya hard decision, bound up with the need to provide flood protection this year.Afterwards, Joe, Randy, and I talked for hours about possible ways forward.Hansi, LaTrisha, and Cheryl joined in at different times. We finished up around 4.No real answers yet about how to move the project forward, how to address needfor emergency levee, and whether those two are intertwined. The good news is weare all still talking.

The case raises questions about priorities: is Suggs advocating for the City, her Tribal interests, or her political ambitions? County taxpayers ended up shouldering a cost 75 times higher than necessary, with a project that closed a road and disrupted the community for two years.

A better option for Port Angeles: James Taylor

James Taylor highlights a recent ruling in the Platypus Marine v. City of Port Angeles case. Although the legal decision favored Platypus, the drawn-out conflict cost millions in lost revenue and delayed dozens of good-paying jobs.

Taylor emphasizes a recurring problem: a city bureaucracy more focused on control than growth, creating obstacles for local businesses rather than supporting them. The ruling shows how defensive, territorial policies undermine economic opportunity and burden taxpayers.

Taylor offers an alternative to the status quo, advocating for policies that encourage investment, job creation, and cooperation between government and business. For residents seeking common-sense governance, Taylor represents a clear contrast to entrenched city practices.

Read his article here.

Transparency questions: Marolee Smith Dvorak

Port Angeles Council candidate Marolee Smith Dvorak raised concerns about the sale of surplus city equipment, asking how proceeds were applied toward new purchases. Responses from city officials were evasive, leaving the public without clarity on taxpayer funds.

Dvorak’s inquiry highlights a pattern of limited transparency in city operations. Simple questions about public money are met with blank stares or delays, revealing how easily accountability can be overlooked. She represents a push for clearer oversight and responsible stewardship of local resources.

Read her full article here.

Meet the candidates: Taylor & Smith-Dvorak

Marolee Smith Dvorak and James Taylor invite the community to a meet-and-greet at Barhop Brewing in Port Angeles, Sunday, October 12, from noon to 1:30 p.m.

This is an opportunity to meet two candidates seeking to bring fresh perspectives to the City Council. Unlike typical campaign events, they are not soliciting donations but aiming to build direct connections with voters, discuss priorities, and answer questions about their plans for the city. Residents are encouraged to join, learn, and engage in person.

Levy lid lift: Questionable priorities

The latest newsletter from Clallam Democrats urges residents to support Proposition 1, the proposed county levy lid lift, and features a statement from County Commissioner Mark Ozias:

“Please support the modest Clallam County general fund levy lid lift this November so we can maintain service across all departments, from Sheriff’s deputies to Public Health to Community Development to elections. The county has worked very hard to cut costs and build efficiencies, but without additional support from you, we will be forced to consider additional painful cuts.”

While Commissioner Ozias frames the levy as necessary to maintain essential services, critics note ongoing spending on programs that raise questions about priorities. These include a county poet laureate, over $12,000 in annual pizza for homeless programs, and private security for personal acquaintances and political allies.

Environmental stewardship: Beyond tribal narratives

A subscriber visiting a festival in Issaquah…

and also hiking in Winthrop…

noticed something missing from salmon-centric signage and activities — there was no mention of tribes. On the Olympic Peninsula, local narratives often present tribes as the primary environmental stewards who are bestowed with an ancient ecological knowledge tied to cultural and spiritual practices.

This observation challenges the assumption that cultural heritage alone ensures effective conservation. Salmon restoration and environmental protection rely on science, data, and professional expertise as much as tradition, highlighting the importance of merit-based approaches alongside cultural acknowledgment.

Jefferson Land Trust and tribal acknowledgments

In Jefferson County, diners at the Inn at Port Ludlow are automatically opted into a 1% contribution for land preservation through Jefferson Land Trust.

The organization acknowledges the land’s Indigenous history and the displacement caused by colonization.

Yet historical nuance is complex: the Klallam Tribe exterminated the Chemakum Tribe, raising questions about historical accountability and current narratives. While the trust emphasizes reconciliation and collaboration, the ongoing focus on tribal lineage and guilt invites debate about how history should inform present-day policy and public expectations.

Indigenous Peoples’ Day: Virtue signaling or accountability?

At Tuesday’s meeting, Commissioner Mark Ozias delivered a proclamation recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day, citing systemic racism and historical impacts and calling for greater understanding and reconciliation.

But as his words echoed through the chambers, one detail stood out: for the second year in a row, no tribal representatives were present to receive it. No one from the tribes the proclamation was intended to honor—only Commissioners Ozias and French applauding themselves (Commissioner Johnson was absent).

To frame historical injustice in local context: on September 21, 1868, a tragic event now known as the Dungeness Massacre took place, when Jamestown warriors attacked a group of the Tsimshian tribe camping on the New Dungeness Spit, killing 17, including women and children. It remains one of the region’s most violent intertribal conflicts — a reminder that tribal histories are complex, interwoven, and not always aligned in narratives of unity and victimhood.

Every culture has a history of violence, conquest, and wrongdoing—none are exempt. Yet county leaders single out selective narratives to appear virtuous, turning complex history into political theater. These proclamations cost nothing, achieve nothing, and serve mainly to signal morality and court donations rather than foster genuine understanding.

Historical reconciliation: The Tsimshian question

A Clallam County resident, who is one-quarter Tsimshian (TSM), recently shared his Bureau of Indian Affairs enrollment card and posed a provocative question: could he seek reparations from the Jamestown Tribe for the 1868 Dungeness Massacre, when S’Klallam warriors killed members of his ancestral nation?

His question highlights the uncomfortable complexity of historical accountability, tribal relations, and modern identity. It challenges the simplicity of today’s rhetoric around reparations and reminds us that history rarely fits clean political narratives. The past doesn’t divide neatly into victims and villains—and those moral contradictions still echo in the present.

“When people get used to preferential treatment, equal treatment seems like discrimination.” — Thomas Sowell

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ccwatchdog.com