The state Attorney General’s Office has declined to file criminal charges against two high-ranking Jefferson County officials for allegedly double-billing the county and state for gasoline mileage reimbursements.
Incumbent Glen Huntingford, R-Chimacum, and now-retired Administrator David Goldsmith were subjects of the investigation that began in May when Mats Mats resident Mike Belenski inquired about the legality of their gasoline reimbursements.
“I’m glad with the decision from the Attorney General’s Office,” Huntingford said in a telephone interview Monday afternoon.
He faces re-election this year and is being challenged by Democrat David Sullivan of Cape George Colony.
Huntingford, according to Belenski’s claims, was reimbursed by both the county and state for attending meetings in Olympia of an air quality group he serves on.
Huntingford received a flat rate of $350 a month for using his personal vehicle for county business and billed the air quality group $655.39 in 2003, according to documents Belenski obtained.
Belenski argued that the $350 monthly rate from the county was based on driving 1,000 miles a month and challenged commissioners to prove they were driving that much.
Ordinance changed
Huntingford said Belenski’s digging caused the commissioners to change the mileage reimbursement ordinance.