PORT ANGELES — The challenger for Clallam County commissioner said he didn’t know he was supposed to attend one of his two political forums in Port Angeles on Monday.
Incumbent Commissioner Mike Doherty, D-Port Angeles, had the floor to himself when Republican challenger Robin Poole of Beaver didn’t show up for the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
Poole, however, did attend the Clallam County League of Women Voters forum Monday night at the county courthouse.
“I didn’t even know I had one this afternoon,” said Poole.
“That was embarrassing as heck.”
Chamber President Jim Hallett told the audience that Poole had confirmed his participation on three occasions.
The event also was publicized in Sunday’s Peninsula Daily News and on the newspaper’s website last week and through the weekend.
“I don’t know what happened,” said Poole.
“That’s not my style. I don’t know what else to say.
“It was just a complete faux pas on my part.”
Kind words
Doherty, a three-term commissioner for District 3, which stretches from western Port Angeles through the West End, opened his time at the chamber meeting with kind words for Poole.
“He’s driven for UPS for 33 years,” Doherty told a group of about 80 business and civic leaders at the Port Angeles CrabHouse Restaurant.
“Can’t say enough good things about him. He’s a great guy. We differ on a few issues. It’s too bad he isn’t here.”
Doherty said his recent appointment to Gov. Chris Gregoire’s Committee on Transforming Washington’s Budget could benefit citizens in Clallam County.
“I can bring some of the information I’m learning in that process back to Clallam County,” he said.
“Because as you know, the local governments in our area are also very fiscally challenged these days.”
Gregoire assembled the broad-based advisory committee in June to provide input on state spending. Its specific charge is to question budget assumptions, serve as a sounding board and lend guidance to the governor.
Doherty is the only elected official representing local governments on the committee.
Budget balanced
At the county level, Doherty said Clallam County is one of the few that hasn’t borrowed money to balance its budget.
“Overall, we will maintain the basic, fundamental services of county government at a high quality,” he said.
Doherty said he and fellow Commissioners Mike Chapman and Steve Tharinger are an open, bipartisan and “pretty pragmatic” board that has earned the trust of the electorate.
Asked to respond to Poole’s challenge that he is “out of touch” with the West End, Doherty said he travels through the region on Wednesdays and many Saturdays. He said he makes himself available to West End citizens and communities.
“You think about the third district — it’s bigger than a couple of eastern states,” he said.
“There’s three tribes. There’s everything from the national park, the national forest, the national marine sanctuary, hundreds and hundreds of thousands of acres of timberland. There’s four or five separate communities.
“In the old days, people in Neah Bay, Clallam Bay, Joyce, would rarely see a county commissioner.
“I understand that issue. I’m sympathetic with it, but it’s such a big district.”
Doherty said he has built relationships with the tribes and other communities of the West End.
Ballots for the all-mail Nov. 2 general election will be distributed beginning Oct. 13.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.