They're Coming to Get You...3rd UPDATE!

One of the things we'll be voting on this year is the Clallam County Charter Review Commission. Rather, we'll be voting for members of that group. These are the people who will (rather obviously) be reviewing the County Charter, which is an important task. So as a public service, let's take a look at the people who have signed up to run for this group so far. Let's see if any patterns emerge, shall we?

First, there's Ted Miller of Sequim - current City Council member, and all-around pretty smart and liberal guy. I like Ted. He sometimes makes me wish I lived in Sequim.

Hey, kids! Retro is cool, right? Uh, right?



Then there's Andrew May, well-known loudmouth, egotist and a certified Friend of Edna. Despite his occasional "non-partisan" claptrap, Andrew is clearly a not-so-closeted Republican.

Sue Forde is running, too. She and her husband have been longtime far-right gadflies and seekers of public office. She's the Clallam County Republican Party's State Committeewoman, and a Republican Precinct Committee Officer (PCO).

Anita Ready is the 2nd Vice President of the Republican Women of Clallam County.

Nola Judd is the Treasurer for the Republican Women of Clallam County.

Brandon Janisse is a Republican PCO from Sequim. You may recall that he ran against the abovementioned Ted Miller, and you may not know that he is (if I recall correctly) an amateur bigfoot hunter.

William G. White is (or was) an elected Republican PCO from Beaver.

And Connie Beauvais of Joyce is a right-wing member of the Clallam County Planning Commission, and didn't like the County's own plan for dealing with stormwater runoff. Here's an excerpt from a PDN article from March of this year:

The goal of the plan is to prevent storm runoff, defined as rain or snow melt that drains into streams without penetrating the soil. from carrying pollutants into waterways and shellfish beds...Some of the methods recommended to accomplish that involve public education, new development standards, control of illicit discharge and ongoing monitoring.

Planning Commissioner Tom Montgomery of Sequim said he felt the plan's assumption that educating the public more about stromwater runoff would be key to controlling it was "way, way, way too unrealistic and idealistic."

(Planning Commission  member) Connie Beauvais also took issue with the plan's language of promoting changes in the "behavior" of landowners. "My mother had difficulty trying to change my behavior," she said.

Clearly the Republicans have been beating the bushes to get their people on the Charter Review Commission. Personally, I don't think it would be a good idea to have this be a party for one party. How about you?

UPDATE: Look out below! Here are some more people who have signed up for the Charter Review Commission:

Maggie Roth, Republican PCO and well-known (unsuccessful) Republican candidate for office.

Jon Alan Kirshbaum of Sequim, who, not surprisingly, is also...a Republican PCO.

And last, but not least, the always Continental and highly questionable Kaj Ahlburg, who is to the right of the far-right, and is the Treasurer for the Clallam County Republican Party.

So that's TEN known Republicans and right-wingers signed up versus ONE brave, lone Democrat. Even if the Democrats get busy, they've got some catching up to do here.

2nd UPDATE: And some more people who've signed up - as of 3:30PM, May 13th:

John Marrs from Port Angeles, who is closely associated with the Democratic Party.

Norma Turner from Port Angeles - another Democrat and a good government watchdog.

Lindsey Schromen-Wawrin from Port Angeles, who, since he's affiliated with Stream Keepers, I'll make the guess he's not a rabid right-winger.

Stephanie Noblin of Port Angeles - who does publicity for the Republican Women of Clallam County.

And Judi Hangartner of Port Angeles - a vocal opponent of the "Smart" Meters, a GOP PCO, and the 2nd VP and Membership Chair of the Republican Women of Clallam County.

3rd UPDATE: As of end of business day May 14th:

The Democrats have been roused - at least it seems that way. Bill Lowman and Scott Clausen (both of Sequim) have signed up, as has Henning Holmgaard (also Sequim), who seems to have Democratic affiliations.

Also signed up: Steve Burke, executive director of the William Shore Memorial Pool. And Barbara Christensen, from the Superior Court Clerk's Office. Does she have a conflict of interest in this process? I guess the voters will decide.



On a related note...It strikes me as so bizarre, yet so perfectly Clallam County, that the local Republican Party is essentially split into His and Hers branches. I guess no one has told Dick Pilling that those silly women got the right to vote years ago. In any case, the Republican Women of Clallam County will have Port O Call publisher Dale Wilson as the speaker at their next meeting, on the 17th.

And on a related if larger scale note...Derek Kilmer has filed for re-election, and already has a challenger. Though W. Greybeard "Bill" McPherson of Port Angeles has a somewhat convoluted name, I like the straightforward nature of what he had to say about why he's running. Simply put, he says that Congress needs members who "are not owned by corporations and the super rich." Mr. McPherson has no party affiliation, but has my thanks for running. He may also have my vote, depending on who else jumps in (or not).