Washam Acted Unethically ... Surprised?
The Pierce County Ethics Commission ruled yesterday that Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer Dale Washam violated county ethics rules in 2010. According to an article in The News Tribune, the issue under consideration was whether Washam had inappropriately used public resources in an effort to defeat Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist.
The charges stem from one particular meeting during business hours with Bertha Fitzer, who was running against Lindquist. Both Washam’s assistant, Gretchen Borck, and his second in command, Albert Ugas were present at the meeting called by the Assessor-Treasurer. Borck and Fitzer both say during that meeting Washam discussed Fitzer’s campaign strategy and his desire to see Lindquist defeated. Washam says he didn’t. The finding that he did will cost him $500 – the most the Commission can impose for this type of offense.
According to the TNT, the unanimous decision is the first time in recent years that the Commission has ruled an official in violation of the ethics code. Washam has 45 days to appeal the finding, but if it stands, which seems likely, it may not be the worst of Washam’s problems in coming months. Last month Pierce County drew a line in the sand when it decided to no longer pay the growing legal costs associated with defending Washam’s behavior. His tab for charges brought by current and former employees stands at $1.13 million, according to the TNT.
For all the sordid details, read the full story from _The News Tribune.
Previously from Exit133: County Council Considers Resolution Asking Washam to Resign.
12 comments
W Weyland Duir April 19, 2012
Finally Washam is being directly penalized for his actions. The entire sorid affair is an embarrassment to the citizens of Pierce County. Dare I hope that more voters will seriously educate themselves on the candidates and issues before inking in their selection? Washam would never have made it into office if more voters had tuned out his “I work for you” and focused more on learning about the man himself.
F fredo April 19, 2012
“Washam Acted Unethically…Surprised?”
Well I’m surprised about one thing, Derek. When Mayor Strickland was found to have acted unethically I don’t remember any similar posting. Is unethical behavior acceptable from one public official…but not another?
F fredo April 19, 2012
“The entire sorid affair is an embarrassment to the citizens of Pierce County”
According to the story the ethics violation was attributed to ONE office meeting. That hardly sounds like a sordid affair. If you want to look at an elected official who was a much greater embarrassment than Mr. Washam you need look no further than Ken Madsen, the former county assessor. He signed off on thousands of phony assessments.
F fredo April 19, 2012
“His tab for charges brought by current and former employees stands at $1.13 million, according to the TNT. “
That’s ridiculous. The county risk manager has been responsible for these payouts, not Washam. Maybe he doesn’t want these cases to go trial because some evidence might be presented that would be embarrassing to him or to the commissioners. No court has determined that Washam did anything wrong. Check the public record.
T tacoma_1 April 20, 2012
A veritable trifecta of fredo posting-isms in defense of a complete incompetent nut job…………..who could ask for anything more?
F fredo April 21, 2012
Well, he might be an “incompetent nut job” but when given the chance to have him recalled the voters refused.
T tacoma_1 April 21, 2012
Not true. Not enough signatures were collected. That would be the fault of the people handling the recall effort, not the voters If Washam runs for reelection, the voters will get to voice their opinion then.
J jd April 21, 2012
In talking to several of the folks trying to get signatures for the recall, the real problem was made clear to me. Every one of them said 70% of the people they talked to, had no idea who Dale Washam even was. I guess that if we’re going to be stupid, we deserve stupid.
It also seems to me that the real problem wasn’t the ethics violation (which is bad enough), but the retribution that followed. In any workplace complaint, the real problems start when the accused lashes back at the accuser. Washam’s ego, self-importance and self-righteousness are only a few of his negative character traits, but probably the worst traits one can have when put in charge of others.
Other elected officials have also made ‘questionable decisions’, but I don’t recall any of them exhibiting the same hubris, arrogance, and vindictiveness shown by Dale Washam upon being called out.
F fredo April 21, 2012
jd, nobody would quarrell with you that Washam is kind of an odd bird. But it’s obvious to me that the Madsen supporters who had to work with Dale have tried to sabotage his efforts. Doubt if his “ego” is any more overinflated than the three declared replacement candidates for the office he holds: Tim Farrell, Mike Lonergan, and Spiro Manthou. None of these people has any background in property assessment. They are a trifecta of narcissitic nincompoops.
I ike your line of reasoning that revealed the apathy of the local voters. When they elected Washam it’s because they didn’t know what they were doing, but when they elected Ken Madsen they were probably wise beyond belief, right?
T tacoma_1 April 21, 2012
Madsen is out of office, and has nothing to do with Washam’s ilegal retalliation and harassment of Pierce County employees. The only people that are still talking about Madsen are the few people that support Washam. It’s a classic diversionary tactic, if you don’t like the topic, change it quick. Washam is garbage. The voters will get their chance to tell him that if he is foolish enough to run for reelection
C Christine April 21, 2012
It seems that the 70% rate of ignorance shows the real problem with our entire system. We have a lot of sobbing chest-beaters in the country that despise the politicians but won’t educate themselves past “I recognize that name, I’ll vote for that person!”
Freddo, you are correct on the ego inherent in a standard politician. It does a certain amount of ego just to be able to act for so many others, so I think a larger-than-average ego is needed, but some politicians do better than others for their electorate and others just jump from elected position to elected position, spending entire lives on the campain trail.
My personal disdain goes towards the “me too’s” that have name recognition already built in and glide in on that. Our current deputy mayor being an example, but there are SEVERAL others in local politics.
J jd April 21, 2012
As a wise person once said about politicians, anybody that wants the job, probably shouldn’t get the job. That having been said, we have to admit that a career politician needs a rather large dose of ego and/or thirst for power to be effective in the role. That of course doesn’t mean that just because someone is an egomaniac or megalomaniac, they automatically are good politicians. It seems to me that while altruism may be a reason some folks enter the public arena, it takes much more than that to remain in office, and broker the necessary deals, make the tough decisions, and basically sell themselves (and their souls) every couple of years for re-election.
Some of our best politicians, including our presidents, have been some of worst people, and vice versa. Unfortunately nice just doesn’t always get the job done. It’s a dirty job, but somebody’s gotta do it.