It’s easy to raise a stink if you ignore the facts.
Local attorney Rosemary Schurman complained to the state auditor that Jefferson County Commissioner Greg Brotherton has a conflict of interest because he serves on the board of Olympic Community Action Programs (OlyCAP), which receives public funds.
Schurman is a supporter of Republican Marcia Kelbon, Brotherton’s opponent in the current election.
Kelbon is also an attorney and she thinks the complaint has merit.
The complaint is disingenuous and easily debunked.
These two lawyers must know that there is no conflict of interest without personal benefit.
How can they ignore the clear case law that covers this very situation in Barry v Johns, 82 Wn. App. 865, 1996?
They know that community action program boards across the county have included elected officials for half a century, as required by federal law.
The civil deputy of the Jefferson County prosecutor doesn’t see anything wrong with it.
These two are just politicking.
We all benefit from the service of Commissioner Greg Brotherton and other elected officials on dozens of boards and agencies.
This is how the public gets accountable oversight and input into public spending.
Brotherton is doing just what we elected him to do and there’s not one little thing wrong with it.
Bruce Cowan
Port Townsend