Suspected drug dealers arrested outside the county’s Health and Human Services building. A former Port Angeles family explains why they moved to Idaho. A local steakhouse closes its doors temporarily. A new housing policy in Snohomish County challenges the low-barrier model. Plus debate videos, public safety concerns, and a question many voters are asking this Social Media Saturday: is there a better way to campaign?

Drug Bust Outside County Health Building

Last week, Social Media Saturday featured reports from residents about a blue Dodge Durango that appeared to be attracting frequent short-stay traffic consistent with drug activity.

Just days later, the PAPD and Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team (OPNET) announced the arrest of a suspected street-level drug dealer after conducting surveillance on that same vehicle in downtown Port Angeles.

According to OPNET, detectives observed activity consistent with drug sales and coordinated with law enforcement partners to stop a suspected buyer. The operation ultimately led to the arrest of 44-year-old Daun Layton and 52-year-old Dennis Tierney on allegations of delivery of a controlled substance and the seizure of fentanyl, drug paraphernalia, scales, methadone, weapons, police scanners, and other items commonly associated with narcotics trafficking.

One detail that caught the attention of many residents: the arrest occurred directly in front of Clallam County’s Health and Human Services building, the same department that oversees the county’s harm-reduction program, which distributes supplies such as meth pipes, crack pipe cleaning kits, foil, and other materials that encourage drug consumption.

Also visible in the background of the photos was the Clallam County Courthouse.

Both suspects have since been released pending further court proceedings.

“We Wanted Out”

Journalist Brandi Kruse recently released a series featuring Washington families who relocated to Idaho. One interview featured Tyler, a former Port Angeles resident and military veteran who described why he and his family decided to leave the Olympic Peninsula.

Tyler told Kruse that increasing drug activity, theft, public disorder, and what he viewed as ineffective law enforcement convinced his family to move. He contrasted Port Angeles with what he experienced in Coeur d’Alene, saying the visible absence of tents, RVs, needles, and open drug use immediately stood out to his family.

Whether residents agree with his assessment or not, the interview offers an unfiltered perspective from a former local resident who felt conditions had deteriorated enough to move his family across state lines. Tyler said he knew of six other Clallam County families who had also moved.

Let the Expansion Begin

With the recent levy now approved, the North Olympic Library System can turn its attention back to core priorities—like hiring a Marketing & Communications Manager.

Crazy Harry’s Hits Pause

Sequim steakhouse Crazy Harry’s announced it will temporarily close its doors.

Running a restaurant has never been easy. Thin margins, rising labor costs, food inflation, insurance expenses, and regulatory requirements make survival difficult even in good times.

Now imagine competing against a restaurant backed by a corporation generating more than $100 million annually in revenue. Imagine competing against a business that doesn’t pay property taxes on trust land, doesn’t pay state business and occupation taxes, and has access to resources and capital far beyond what most local family-owned restaurants could ever hope to obtain.

That is the reality facing many private businesses in Clallam County.

Another Democratic Debate Online

The Clallam County Democrats have posted video from their Legislative District 24 Position 2 candidate forum.

The debate features Bradley Callaway, Patrick DePoe, Mark Hodgson, Marcia Kelbon, and Kaylee Kuehn discussing issues ranging from housing and public safety to state policy and economic development.

For voters still getting acquainted with the candidates, it provides an opportunity to hear directly from each participant before ballots arrive next month.

Indivisible to Host Another “Public” Meeting

After advertising a meeting as open to the public and then calling police when members of the public attempted to attend, Indivisible is inviting residents to another public event focused on “Meaningful Conversations.”

The group’s next gathering is scheduled for July 11 at the Sequim Library and is being promoted as an opportunity for community discussion and civic engagement.

Millions Available for (Some) New Recreation Projects

While Olympic National Park visitors are still waiting for Olympic Hot Springs Road to reopen and Hurricane Ridge Lodge to be rebuilt, a new federal funding opportunity is opening up for tribes nationwide.

Under the EXPLORE Act, federally recognized tribes can now apply directly for outdoor recreation grants ranging from $300,000 to $15 million for parks, trails, cultural spaces, and recreation facilities.

It’s another reminder that while new recreation projects continue to receive funding, the Olympic Peninsula is still waiting on progress for two of its most beloved destinations. Years after the road closure and three years after the lodge fire, many locals are wondering when restoring access and rebuilding existing infrastructure will become a priority.

Redefining Common Courtesy

Indivisible Sequim is protesting for common courtesy.

Snohomish County Changes Course on Housing

The Snohomish County Council voted 3-2 this month to adopt a new housing funding policy that could have implications far beyond county lines.

The ordinance prohibits county housing funds from prioritizing “low-barrier” housing models and prevents providers from being penalized for requiring sobriety, treatment participation, counseling, or drug testing.

Supporters argue the measure restores balance and allows recovery-focused housing providers to compete on equal footing.

While the ordinance applies only to Snohomish County, the debate mirrors many of the same discussions taking place in Clallam County about harm reduction, Peninsula Behavioral Health’s North View luxury homeless housing complex, recovery, accountability, and how public dollars should be spent.

Is Port Angeles Still Safe?

A local social media post generated significant discussion this week after a mother described being repeatedly approached by a woman seeking money. The resident reported encounters at a gas station and grocery store parking lot and said she felt unsafe when strangers came within arm’s reach of her children.

The post sparked comments from residents debating whether public safety and quality-of-life conditions have changed in recent years. The discussion comes as County Commissioner candidate Jake Seegers continues to make public safety a central issue in his campaign.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Mike French has publicly argued that Clallam County remains as safe as it was several years ago, highlighting a growing divide in how residents and local leaders view conditions on the ground.

A Different Way to Campaign?

With more than four months remaining until Election Day, some voters are already expressing fatigue with the increasingly divisive tone of local politics. One resident posed a simple question: Is there a way to support a candidate without attacking their opponent?

It’s a fair point.

Campaigns inevitably involve disagreements, criticism, and competing visions for the future. But many voters say they would like to hear more about what supporters like about their candidate, opposed to what they dislike about a challenger.

For supporters of Commissioner Mike French, that means highlighting his record from the past three and a half years as county commissioner and his previous five years on the Port Angeles City Council.

From the Police Scanner

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If you want to know how one influential Democratic Party leader viewed Monday’s commissioner debate, look no further than Tim Wheeler’s post-debate recap. The Clallam Democrats’ trustee portrays Mike French as the clear choice while describing Jake Seegers, Clallam County Watchdog, and their supporters in blistering terms. The debate video is now public, giving voters the opportunity to judge both the candidates—and Wheeler’s commentary—for themselves.

The Clallam County Democrats have published video of last week’s County Commissioner debate between incumbent Mike French and challenger Jake Seegers.

For those who don’t have time to watch the entire event, Clallam County Democrats trustee Tim Wheeler has already published his own detailed account of what transpired.

Wheeler is not simply an attendee. He serves as a trustee of the Clallam County Democrats, the organization that hosted the debate.

He has also publicly identified himself as a communist on numerous occasions and has been active in local political organizing for years.

His summary provides an interesting opportunity for voters: they can compare Wheeler’s written account with the actual debate footage and decide for themselves whether the two align.

French and Seegers Through Wheeler’s Eyes

Wheeler opens his article by describing what he sees as the defining contrast between the candidates.

According to Wheeler, Seegers’ top priority is “Public Safety,” which Wheeler characterizes as stronger law enforcement, more police officers, and longer jail stays for offenders.

French, Wheeler writes, identified economic development as his top priority, emphasizing jobs, housing affordability, and treatment options for those struggling with addiction.

Wheeler writes:

“Think about it. Seegers’ priority: ‘Public Safety,’ tougher law enforcement, more police. French’s priority: ‘Economic Development,’ more living wage jobs, more affordable housing. What a sharp contrast!”

Wheeler also notes that French defended medication-assisted treatment programs and praised the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe’s Healing Campus in Sequim.

From Debate Summary to Political Commentary

As Wheeler’s article continues, it shifts from describing the debate to offering his own opinions about the candidates and their supporters.

Discussing homelessness, Wheeler writes that Seegers believes Clallam County has become a destination for homeless individuals because of the services offered here.

Wheeler contrasts that with French’s comments about Seattle, describing Seattle as:

“a great city, growing, a center for the arts and culture and economic innovation, with millions of intelligent, caring, hardworking residents.”

The article then moves beyond the candidates’ answers and into broader political commentary.

Wheeler describes Save Our Sequim activists as “hateful fearmongers” and refers to Clallam County Watchdog as the “offspring” of that movement.

Later, he writes:

“Seegers, Tozzer, and a handful of Clallam Watchdog cultists attend every Clallam County Commissioners meeting...”

He continues to characterize Clallam County Watchdog as a “cult,” accuses participants of engaging in intimidation and slander, and compares the movement to MAGA politics.

Allegations Beyond the Debate Stage

Much of Wheeler’s article focuses on subjects that were not central to the debate itself.

He discusses Seegers’ family foundation, donations, real estate interests, business activities, and alleged conflicts of interest.

He also asserts that these relationships are not properly disclosed and raises questions about transparency.

Whether readers agree with Wheeler’s conclusions or not, these sections read less as a summary of the debate and more as a broader political critique of the candidate.

A Trustee’s Perspective

One aspect of Wheeler’s article that readers may find noteworthy is his position within the organization that hosted the event.

As a trustee of the Clallam County Democrats, Wheeler is not an independent journalist or neutral observer. He is an elected leader within the local Democratic Party structure.

His article concludes with an explicit appeal to voters:

“VOTE DEMOCRAT! REJECT THE MAGAs, the Christian Nationalists, the hatemongers!”

That closing statement leaves little doubt about where Wheeler stands politically or which candidate he hopes voters will support.

Seegers’ Response

Following the debate, Seegers struck a different tone.

He thanked the Clallam County Democrats for hosting the event and said:

“The questions were thoughtful, the conversation was respectful, and we all had the opportunity to hear different perspectives.”

Seegers also emphasized the importance of finding common ground and working together despite political differences.

Watch and Decide

The debate is now available for anyone to watch.

Rather than relying on summaries from campaign supporters, party officials, political activists, or even CC Watchdog, voters can review the discussion themselves and draw their own conclusions.

After all, the debate was recorded. The candidates’ answers are available. The question is not what Tim Wheeler thought happened.

The question is what actually happened.

Today’s Tidbit: Serious Allegations, No Evidence

Just days after hosting what they described as a successful commissioner candidate forum with a standing-room-only crowd and more than 100 attendees on Zoom, the Clallam County Democrats distributed a very different message to their members.

In a newsletter, the organization celebrated the French-Seegers debate before sharing a statement from an unnamed source concerning County Health Officer Dr. Allison Berry:

“Tozzer and Seegers are personally intimidating and threatening and harassing her regularly, along with their little brigade. Evidence is available on recordings of BOH and Commissioner meetings.”

Those are not minor accusations. They are allegations of intimidation, threats, and harassment directed at two individuals actively participating in local politics.

After receiving the email, I wrote to Democratic Party Chair Ellen Menshew thanking her for hosting the debate and requesting clarification. Specifically, I asked for examples of conduct by either Jake Seegers or myself that constituted intimidation, threats, or harassment, and requested identification of the Board of Health or County Commissioner meetings where this alleged conduct occurred.

The request was straightforward: if evidence exists, provide it.

As of this writing, no response has been received.

Public officials are routinely questioned, criticized, challenged, and held accountable by members of the public. That is a normal and healthy part of representative government. Accusing citizens of intimidation, threats, and harassment is something entirely different. Such allegations should be supported by specific facts, not anonymous assertions circulated in a political newsletter.

The question remains unanswered: What exactly did Jake or I say or do that rises to the level of intimidation, threats, or harassment? The lack of specifics is important because claims like this aren't new. Similar allegations about Dr. Berry being threatened, intimidated, or harassed have been made for years.

After years of contentious public meetings, it is fair to ask where the line is between actual harassment and citizens asking tough questions, requesting records, challenging public policy, and criticizing the actions of public officials. If recordings exist showing threats or intimidation, they should be easy to identify and produce.

Until then, readers can draw their own conclusions.

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A barn dance, a candidate billed as “our conservation candidate,” questions about suspected drug activity near county offices, and a reminder from Indivisible to tone down profane protest signs. Meanwhile, county health officials are promoting life-jacket safety while continuing to distribute drug-use supplies, and Jefferson County commissioners are revisiting a controversial wildlife refuge proposal. Here’s a quick look at what people are talking about this Social Media Saturday.

Barn Dance Tonight

Looking for something wholesome to do tonight? A community barn dance is being held in Sequim, offering an evening of music, dancing, and old-fashioned fun.

Life Jackets Good, Boofing Kits Better?

Clallam County’s Public Health Department is reminding residents that wearing a properly fitted life jacket while boating can save lives—and that failing to do so could result in fines.

The message is hard to miss coming from the same department that distributes needles, meth pipes, foil, crack-pipe cleaning kits, and boofing kits as part of its harm-reduction efforts.

Apparently some risky behaviors warrant government intervention, while others warrant government supplies.

Hurricane Ridge: Still Waiting

The National Park Service is accepting applications through its Tribal Heritage Grants Program to preserve oral histories, cultural traditions, sacred places, and historic sites.

Meanwhile, more than three years after the iconic Hurricane Ridge Lodge burned to the ground, there is still no replacement structure under construction.

For generations of local families, Hurricane Ridge wasn’t just a building. It was part of the area’s shared heritage, a tourism draw, and a place where countless memories were made. Yet while millions of dollars are available for preserving some forms of heritage, one of the region’s most recognizable landmarks remains a pile of rubble.

“Our Conservation Candidate”

Wendy Rae Johnson, auditor for the Clallam Conservation District, will soon host a meet-and-greet for State House candidate Kaylee Kuehn.

The invitation encouraged attendees to come meet “our conservation candidate.”

That wording has raised eyebrows among some residents, who wonder whether a public official associated with the Clallam Conservation District should describe a political candidate as “our conservation candidate.” Perhaps Johnson was acting in her personal capacity rather than on behalf of the district.

Regardless, the phrasing has created confusion.

Suspected Drug Activity Near County Offices

Port Angeles resident David Rogers reports that he has repeatedly observed the same vehicle parked at various locations around town, often with individuals approaching and leaving after only brief interactions.

“I have reason to believe this vehicle may be involved in drug distribution,” Rogers wrote.

According to Rogers, the vehicle is frequently seen parked across from the county’s Health and Human Services building. He advises residents not to approach the vehicle and instead report suspicious activity directly to law enforcement.

Refuge Transfer Letter Gets Reworked

According to the Port Townsend and Jefferson County Leader, Jefferson County commissioners are revising a draft letter regarding the proposed transfer of two wildlife refuges to the Jamestown Corporation.

The proposal has generated significant debate throughout both counties, with supporters and opponents continuing to argue over questions of local control, conservation, and long-term management of public lands.

Shhh... This Public Meeting Was Private

NOLS weighed in on this week’s library controversy, explaining that the Indivisible meeting was a paid room reservation and therefore could legally exclude members of the public. The explanation answered one of the biggest questions raised by the incident, but not all of them.

Questions remain about how the event was advertised, whether attendees had reason to believe it was open to the public, and why police were called. One thing is certain: the library’s meeting room policy is getting far more attention than Summer Reading.

Indivisible Members Told to Clean Up the Signs

Jim Stoffer, Indivisible Sequim’s Director of Safety, circulated a message to members this week after concerns were raised about protest signs displayed during Friday demonstrations in downtown Sequim.

According to the message, a community member reported seeing signs containing profanity, middle-finger imagery, and even nooses depicting the hanging of political opponents.

Stoffer shared the concern with members and concluded his message with a reminder to “be better than the Watchdog Club.”

From the Scanner

The following is a republication from an article published May 12th of this year:

How Many Chances Does One Person Get?

Sunday brought a fire scare to Port Angeles — this time at the Fairmount Restaurant, where emergency crews responded to a reported burn complaint and possible arson investigation involving David Waddell, according to scanner traffic.

If that name sounds familiar, it should.

Because for years, Waddell has repeatedly appeared in scanner reports, police incidents, fire calls, and public disturbances throughout Clallam County — while local taxpayers continue footing the bill for the endless cycle of emergency response, law enforcement, cleanup, and public safety risks.

According to public scanner reports and incident logs:

• March 16, 2022: An RV being used as Waddell’s residence exploded into flames near the old Humane Society property on Highway 101. Fire crews reported propane cylinders inside the RV, nearby structures threatened by the fire, and a major emergency response. The RV was a total loss.

• April 23, 2022: Scanner traffic reported Waddell allegedly attempting to burn a gate using a propane tank and blow torch.

• May 14, 2022: Waddell was reportedly associated with suspicious or possible drug activity at IGS while also carrying a misdemeanor DUI warrant.

• September 25, 2022: Scanner reports again referenced suspicious activity involving property connected to Waddell near the old Humane Society site.

• March 13, 2023: Scanner traffic indicated Waddell had a DUI warrant with bail reportedly set at $80,000.

• November 30, 2025: Scanner reports described Waddell allegedly outside screaming in the street after reportedly earlier being naked in public.

• January 2026: Scanner traffic referenced a California warrant for possession of dangerous drugs and identified Waddell as a convicted felon with prior DOC involvement.

• And now Sunday, 2026: another fire-related emergency response tied to Waddell.

At what point does the public get to ask whether this revolving-door system is actually compassionate — or simply enabling chaos?

Residents are constantly told Clallam County needs more money, more services, more harm reduction, more housing programs, more outreach teams, and more “resources.” Meanwhile, ordinary taxpayers watch the same names appear over and over in fires, warrants, disturbances, drug incidents, EMS calls, and law enforcement contacts.

And while working families struggle with inflation, housing costs, and public safety concerns, local government continues expanding programs that hand out free drug paraphernalia, including crack pipes and smoking supplies, under the banner of “harm reduction.”

The uncomfortable question many residents are asking is simple:

How many public resources should one chronically destructive individual be allowed to consume before accountability finally enters the conversation?

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Debate Details Here

Social Media Saturday is back, and this week’s roundup touches on everything from pool safety and homelessness to Pride Month events, local politics, nonprofit salaries, and public accountability.

Pool Voucher Debate Takes Another Turn

Controversy continues over the William Shore Memorial Pool’s decision to reinstate free shower vouchers for homeless drug users, a program supported unanimously by Pool Board members County Commissioner Mike French, County Commissioner Randy Johnson, Port Angeles City Councilmembers Mark Hodgson and LaTrisha Suggs, and community representative Greg Shield.

During the board’s discussion, supporters argued there had been no documented incidents associated with the program. However, this week, a local mother reported that her child found a fentanyl patch in a family changing room at the facility.

Whether related or unrelated to the voucher program, the report is certain to add fuel to an already heated public debate.

A Snapshot of Downtown Reality

Last Sunday offered beautiful weather in Port Angeles, but one photograph taken between the Dream Playground and Civic Field captured a different reality: an individual sleeping on the sidewalk next to an overflowing shopping cart packed with personal belongings.

As discussions continue about homelessness, public safety, and the use of public spaces, scenes like this remain common throughout the city.

Indivisible Port Angeles Meeting Scheduled

Indivisible Port Angeles will hold a meeting Monday evening at 6:30 p.m. at the Port Angeles Library, and the public is welcome. Interest appears to be growing, with four residents discussing attendance and at least one participant already confirmed.

Library Celebrates Pride Month

The North Olympic Library System is ramping up its Pride Month programming.

On Sunday, the NOLS Bookmobile will attend the SisterLand Farms Pride Picnic at B&B Family Farm Lavender Barn in Sequim. Event organizers describe the gathering as a call for community involvement, activism, volunteerism, mutual aid, and a chance to learn about harm reduction.

Promotional materials for the event include books such as Palestine: A Socialist Introduction, Boycott Divestment Sanctions, and Uncivil Rites.

With the library levy now approved and property taxes set to rise, the library can continue expanding essential programs and community partnerships such as these. Residents who wish to share feedback with the library may contact the Library Board, which is appointed by the county commissioners, at LibraryBoard@nols.org or Executive Director Noah Glaude at Director@nols.org.

New County Appointee Speaks Out

Rae Hesselbach, recently appointed to Clallam County’s Developmental Disabilities Advisory Committee, used social media this week to encourage support for LGBTQ individuals and to highlight concerns about discrimination.

Last month, Hesselbach stated that “the wealthiest white men are a greater threat to safety than the unhoused.”

Buckle up. June is just getting started, which means another month of diversity trainings, inclusion messaging, Pride celebrations, and reminders about who needs to be more accepting of whom.

Questions Continue in ‘Sun Drop Murderer’ Case

Community reaction continues following revelations that the alleged “Sun Drop Murderer” lived in Port Angeles for more than a decade despite hundreds of documented law enforcement contacts.

One social media commenter claimed that “Serenity House has been housing him for years,” adding to ongoing questions about homelessness services, public safety, and accountability.

Public Spaces and Tourism

Commissioner Mike French stated that reclaiming public spaces ultimately falls to the public itself. Commissioner Randy Johnson has pointed to tariffs and economic conditions as factors affecting tourism from Canada.

Others are asking a different question: Could visible homelessness, open-air drug use, and deteriorating public spaces also be affecting the visitor experience?

For many travelers arriving from Victoria, downtown Port Angeles serves as their first impression of Clallam County. Is it a good impression?

United Way Unveils New Headshots

The United Way of Clallam County recently released new staff photographs highlighting the organization’s leadership team.

According to publicly available nonprofit filings, executive compensation was reported at approximately $143,000.

The figure has sparked discussion among some residents who note it exceeds Clallam County’s median household income by more than double.

Calico Cat Club Announces Second Town Hall

Following a well-attended community forum, the Calico Cat Club has scheduled a second town hall focused on issues affecting residents west of Port Angeles.

Confirmed participants include Clallam County Prosecutor Mark Nichols and Sheriff Brian King.

Commissioner Mike French has cited a scheduling conflict. Commissioner Randy Johnson has not responded. Commissioner Mark Ozias has refused to participate in forums unless they are facilitated by the League of Women Voters or local chambers of commerce.

The event will be held on Thursday, June 18, at 6:30 p.m. at the Dry Creek Grange, 3520 Edgewood Drive, Port Angeles.

From the Scanner

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Barn Dance Next Weekend

Note: This is a kids-free event.

See You Today in Clallam Bay!

A public records request involving the 10,000 Years Institute raises questions about how Clallam County government handles support letters. Emails show the nonprofit drafted its own letter of support for a grant application, sent it to county staff, and later received back an official Board of County Commissioners letter that closely mirrored the original language. The records raise concerns about whether commissioners are independently evaluating requests or simply providing county letterhead for outside organizations seeking funding, while residents continue struggling to get action on issues affecting their own communities.

The NGO Behind the Request

The story begins with the 10,000 Years Institute, a Forks-based nonprofit that describes itself as working on watershed restoration, invasive species management, workforce development, habitat restoration, climate-related conservation projects, and environmental education throughout the Olympic Peninsula.

The organization has become deeply embedded in the region’s restoration industry. Its presentations to local governments highlight partnerships with tribal governments, conservation districts, Marine Resources Committees, salmon Lead Entities, federal agencies, state agencies, environmental nonprofits, and educational institutions. The organization works extensively with the Quileute Tribe, Hoh Tribe, Quinault Nation, Olympic National Park, Olympic National Forest, Washington Department of Natural Resources, and numerous restoration organizations.

Much of the institute’s work centers around invasive species management, particularly Scotch broom, knotweed, reed canarygrass, and other non-native plants. Through various grants and partnerships, the organization coordinates crews that survey and treat invasive species across large portions of Clallam, Jefferson, and Grays Harbor counties.

Whether those efforts are winning the war against invasive species is another question.

Residents driving Highway 101, Highway 112, and countless county roads can see Scotch broom exploding across the landscape. Every spring, the Olympic Peninsula turns bright yellow as millions of blooms spread across roadsides, timberlands, and vacant properties.

The institute’s own presentations show thousands of invasive species sites and hundreds of treated acres. Yet for many residents, the visible reality appears to be that Scotch broom remains one of the most successful and widespread invasive species on the peninsula.

That alone might be a worthy public discussion.

Instead, the records show how quickly the conversation moved toward obtaining another government endorsement.

A Letter Written Before the Vote

On March 23, 2026, Executive Director Jill Silver was preparing to appear before the Clallam County Board of Commissioners to request support for another grant application.

The grant would support the organization’s “Pulling Together in Restoration” program, a long-running effort focused on invasive species management and restoration work throughout western Clallam County.

Before the commissioners ever discussed the request, however, county staff made an interesting suggestion.

The Clerk of the Board emailed Silver and requested a letter of support for inclusion in the commissioners’ agenda packet.

“Please send me the letter of support,” the clerk wrote. “The BOCC will want that in the agenda packet. You can send in a word document and I’ll format on BOCC letterhead.”

In other words, the organization seeking the endorsement was invited to draft the endorsement itself.

Silver responded shortly afterward.

“Here it is, it was so good then, few changes made now,” she wrote while attaching a completed draft.

She then added a sentence that would prove especially noteworthy after comparing the draft to the final version.

“May of course be adjusted as determined by the BOCC or staff.”

What Silver submitted was not a rough outline or a list of talking points.

It was a complete letter written from the perspective of the Clallam County Board of Commissioners.

The draft praised the organization’s accomplishments, described the benefits of its work, highlighted educational outreach efforts, emphasized workforce development, and urged continued funding for the program.

The county’s official position had effectively been written before the commissioners had even reviewed it.

From Draft to Official County Position

After receiving the document, the clerk replied with a brief response.

“Thanks! I’ll get this formatted.”

That sentence may ultimately become the most revealing quote in the entire records request.

Because when the final letter was approved and sent back to the organization, it looked remarkably similar to the document that had originally been provided by the nonprofit itself.

Paragraph after paragraph survived largely intact.
Descriptions of workforce development remained.
Descriptions of watershed protection remained.
Descriptions of educational outreach remained.
Descriptions of economic benefits remained.
The arguments supporting continued funding remained.

The language had not been substantially challenged, rewritten, or independently reconstructed by county officials. Instead, it appeared to have been transferred from nonprofit draft to county letterhead with minimal modification.

A few days later, county staff emailed the organization once again: “See attached approved letter.”

Mission accomplished.

More Than a Clerical Process

It is important to note that this is not a criticism of Clerk of the Board. The clerk works for the commissioners and handles the administrative side of county government. If county staff are routinely accepting draft support letters from outside organizations and preparing them for commissioner approval, that reflects the process established by the Board of County Commissioners, not the clerk. The questions raised by these records belong at the commissioner level, where county policy and priorities are ultimately set.

Supporters of the practice will undoubtedly argue that nonprofits routinely provide draft support letters and that government agencies frequently edit and adopt portions of those drafts.

That explanation misses the larger issue.

The concern is not who typed the words. The concern is whether elected officials exercised meaningful independent judgment before adopting them as the official position of Clallam County government.

When commissioners sign a letter, taxpayers assume county officials have independently evaluated the claims being made.

They assume someone verified outcomes.
They assume someone asked hard questions.
They assume someone considered alternative viewpoints.

Most importantly, they assume someone acted as an elected representative rather than a notary public. The records provide little indication that such scrutiny occurred.

Instead, the process appears largely administrative. A nonprofit requested support. A nonprofit supplied the language supporting itself. The county formatted the document. The commissioners approved it.

A Pattern Residents Have Seen Before

For many residents, this story feels familiar.

Earlier this year, controversy erupted after it was revealed that language from the City of Sequim supporting the transfer of the Dungeness and Protection Island National Wildlife Refuges closely tracked material provided by the Jamestown Corporation.

The public backlash was immediate.
Citizens demanded answers.
Public officials suddenly became reluctant to move forward, but did anyway.

Many observers believe the same thing would have happened with the Clallam County Commissioners had the public not sounded the alarm.

The pattern appears increasingly predictable. An NGO or sovereign nation identifies a funding opportunity, a policy goal, or a project. Local government is asked to provide support. The endorsement arrives with little resistance. The project moves forward carrying the weight and credibility of county government.

Meanwhile, ordinary residents continue waiting.

Residents Waiting in Line

The contrast becomes especially striking when compared to issues that residents have been asking commissioners to address for years.

• Three Crabs homeowners continue dealing with flooding concerns.

• Citizens continue asking for stronger opposition to the transfer of the National Wildlife Refuges.

• Residents continue advocating for reopening Olympic Hot Springs Road and restoring access to the Elwha Valley.

• Taxpayers continue waiting for commissioners to follow up on their unanswered request for a conversation with the Jamestown Tribe regarding property taxes and lodging taxes.

• Drivers continue navigating the accident-prone Cays Road and Old Olympic Highway intersection.

  

Those requests rarely seem to move with the speed demonstrated when a grant applicant seeks a letter of support.

The difference is difficult to ignore.

The County’s Mission Statement Says Residents Come First

The Board of County Commissioners has adopted a mission statement that includes a commitment to:

“Putting the translated desires of our residents into action through effective communication.”

Notice what it does not say.

It does not say nonprofits.
It does not say grant applicants.
It does not say advocacy organizations.
It does not say special interests.

It says residents.

Yet the records surrounding the 10,000 Years Institute support letter suggest that organized outside groups have learned an important lesson about Clallam County government.

If you want county support, come prepared with the letter already written.

Five Quotes That Tell the Entire Story

Sometimes dozens of pages of public records can be distilled down to a handful of sentences.

This story may be one of those cases.

• “Please send me the letter of support.”

• “You can send in a word document and I’ll format on BOCC letterhead.”

• “Here it is, it was so good then, few changes made now.”

• “Thanks! I’ll get this formatted.”

• “See attached approved letter.”

Taken together, those five quotes tell a story that should concern anyone who believes elected officials are supposed to independently evaluate requests before speaking on behalf of the people of Clallam County.

Today’s Tidbit: Take Action

Do you have an issue you’d like the Clallam County Commissioners to take seriously?

Perhaps you’re concerned about the proposed transfer of the Dungeness and Protection Island National Wildlife Refuges. Maybe you’re dealing with chronic flooding in Three Crabs, dangerous traffic conditions at local intersections, public safety concerns, rising property taxes, or another issue affecting your neighborhood and quality of life.

The Board of County Commissioners’ mission statement says its job is to put “the translated desires of our residents into action through effective communication.”

If that’s true, now is the time to ask for the same level of attention and responsiveness that nonprofit organizations and special-interest groups appear to receive.

Contact the Board of County Commissioners through Clerk of the Board Loni Gores at loni.gores@clallamcountywa.gov and respectfully ask that your concerns be given the same priority as the organizations that regularly receive county support letters, endorsements, and prompt action.

County government belongs to the residents of Clallam County. Let the commissioners know what issue matters most to you and ask what they are doing to address it.

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A man is struck in the head with a brick by a stranger. Parents report alleged drug use outside the Shore Aquatic Center. Residents post photos of people passed out in public spaces, sleeping in bank drive-throughs, and leaving drug paraphernalia behind. Meanwhile, local activists raise tens of thousands of dollars for unnamed individuals, and citizens continue debating whether Port Angeles and Sequim are becoming safer or less recognizable by the day. Welcome to another Social Media Saturday.

Hit in the Head with a Brick by a Stranger

If there was one post that captured why many residents no longer feel comfortable walking around Port Angeles, it wasn’t a political argument. It was a post from police.

This week, the Port Angeles Police Department reported an arrest after a man was allegedly struck in the head with a brick by someone he reportedly did not know. According to police, the victim suffered a head injury requiring medical treatment before officers located and arrested the suspect.

The detail that stood out to many readers wasn’t simply the violence. It was the statement that the victim and suspect were strangers.

For years, residents have been told that concerns about public safety are exaggerated, that crime is largely between people who know each other, and that we are just as safe as we were four years ago. Yet social media reactions to the incident suggest many residents viewed it differently.

For people walking downtown, taking their kids to the park, or visiting local businesses, the question isn’t whether crime statistics are up or down. The question is simple:

“What are the chances I become the next random victim?”

Seven Years of Warnings at Veterans Memorial Park

The debate surrounding Veterans Memorial Park continues to rage.

This week brought renewed complaints about drug use, disorderly behavior, and public safety concerns around public spaces in Port Angeles. Those complaints are not new.

Mike French’s first term on the Port Angeles City Council began in January 2018. In April 2019, a KING 5 report documenting conditions at Veterans Memorial Park showed a homeless man occupying the park and highlighted concerns that residents were already raising at the time.

What stands out today is not the video itself, but how familiar the discussion remains seven years later.

Residents are still posting photos of individuals passed out in public spaces. They are still debating whether parks are welcoming to families. They are still asking why conditions seem largely unchanged despite millions of dollars spent on homelessness, behavioral health, outreach programs, shelters, grants, and harm reduction efforts.

Seven years after Mike French first assumed public office, the arguments are nearly identical.

A Homeless Guy Shooting Up Outside the Pool

One of the most shared posts this week came from a resident who reported a man was injecting drugs outside the Shore Aquatic Center while families were using the facility.

According to the post, front desk staff were instructed to ask the individual to leave despite not being trained for that type of confrontation.

Hundreds of comments followed, many expressing frustration that public recreation facilities increasingly find themselves on the front lines of issues they were never designed to manage.

The debate comes only weeks after the William Shore Memorial Pool Board voted to reinstate its controversial shower voucher program for transient drug addicts.

For many residents, the concern is no longer about a single incident. It is about whether community facilities intended for children and families are gradually becoming extensions of the county’s broader homelessness and harm-reduction infrastructure.

Pools are uniquely vulnerable because swimmers typically leave wallets, phones, keys, and other valuables unattended in locker rooms while they are in the water. The Sequim YMCA experienced a significant spike in thefts and property crimes several years ago, highlighting the challenges that can arise when public recreational facilities become targets for criminal activity.

Is This the New Normal?

Crack Pipes at the ATM and People Sleeping in the Drive-Through

This week’s social media feed included:

• A resident reporting a crack pipe left in a bank ATM receipt holder.

• A photo of a man reportedly sleeping in a bank drive-through lane.

• Photos showing individuals passed out on public property.

• Complaints from residents about disorder around businesses and commercial areas.

Individually, each post may seem minor.

Collectively, they paint a picture of a community increasingly frustrated by what many perceive as a normalization of behavior that would have been considered unacceptable only a few years ago.

The Anonymous ICE Fundraiser

One of the more unusual discussions this week involved a GoFundMe campaign organized by local Indivisible activist Alex Fane.

The fundraiser states that a longtime community member was detained by ICE and that donations will be used for legal expenses and family support. The campaign does not identify the individual involved, citing privacy concerns, yet had raised more than $25,000 at the time screenshots were shared online.

That immediately raised questions among some residents.

Who is the individual?
What are the circumstances of the detention?
How are donors expected to verify the claims being made?

The fundraiser notes that donations are being collected by the organizer and transferred outside of GoFundMe to the family.

To be clear, there is no evidence the fundraiser is illegitimate. However, when tens of thousands of dollars are being collected from the public while the recipient remains unnamed, questions about transparency are inevitable.

At roughly the same time, other social media users were posting claims that federal authorities had not detained anyone locally, creating even more confusion.

The result was another familiar theme: residents trying to separate facts from rumors while receiving very little verifiable information.

Who Gets a Voice in Port Angeles?

Another discussion gaining traction involved city advisory committees.

One resident questioned why Clallam County residents who work, shop, pay taxes, and spend time in Port Angeles are prohibited from serving on certain city committees unless they reside within city limits.

The argument from supporters is straightforward: city residents should govern city affairs.

The argument from opponents is equally straightforward: many county residents are deeply affected by city decisions and should have opportunities to participate.

Expect that debate to continue.

Million-Dollar Nonprofit Looking for Free Yard Work

The North Olympic Land Trust is asking volunteers to pull weeds around its office.

When an organization reports nearly $3 million in annual revenue, more than $11 million in assets, and a staff of ten employees, residents may reasonably wonder why basic office landscaping is being outsourced to volunteers rather than handled as a routine operating expense.

Compassion or Consequences?

Perhaps the most revealing discussion of the week involved a resident describing a senior mobile home park where a homeowner had reportedly allowed several homeless individuals to stay on the property.

Some commenters viewed the arrangement as an act of compassion.

Others focused on quality-of-life concerns, safety concerns, and the fact that the park was intended for seniors.

The exchange highlighted a broader divide that continues to define local politics.

One side asks whether enough is being done to help vulnerable people.

The other asks whether enough consideration is being given to the people who already live here.

Increasingly, both sides believe they are the compassionate ones.

From the Scanner

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See You In Joyce Today!

Come meet Jake, sign the petition to reopen the Olympic Hot Springs Road, and go home with a yard sign.

As anti-Seegers stickers continue appearing across Clallam County—including more near his home, at local businesses, and on commercial property—a growing number of residents are asking a simple question: Why is so much energy being spent attacking Jake Seegers instead of defending Mike French’s four years in office?

Commissioner Mike French says putting stickers on public property is “fun.”

Commissioner Mark Ozias claims it’s protected under the First Amendment.

However, a growing number of residents and business owners see it differently. They call it defacing property. Vandalism. Immature. Annoying. And one more thing for somebody else to scrape off and clean up.

Yet stickers continue to appear throughout Clallam County.

More have been placed near Jake Seegers’ home, where his children bike to retrieve the family’s mail.

Others have appeared at the Port Angeles Walmart, Sequim Home Depot, and increasingly throughout downtown Port Angeles, labeling Jake Seegers a “carpetbagger” and an “out-of-town real estate investor” as the sticker campaign continues to spread across the community.

There’s even a new design calling Jake a “Christian Nationalist.”

Now, the sticker bandits have been caught on camera. Again.

This time, surveillance footage appears to show two individuals placing a sticker on the window of a local Port Angeles business.

Recognize them?

They appear remarkably similar to the same duo previously captured on camera placing political stickers elsewhere in the community.

But this sticker wasn’t aimed at Jake Seegers.

This one targeted his campaign manager.

The sticker reads:

“Jeff Tozzer Never Worked a Day in His Life.”

The incident occurred Sunday morning at 7:52 a.m. The footage came from the security team of the affected business.

CC Watchdog attempted to contact Jeff Tozzer for comment.

Unfortunately, he was unavailable while inspecting his private yacht fleet off the coast of Monaco before departing for a brief weekend at his Alpine château in Switzerland.

Fortunately, his butler was available.

“The sticker is entirely inaccurate,” the butler said. “The gentleman depicted on the sticker appears to have hair. Mr. Tozzer has not enjoyed that luxury for quite some time.”

Tozzer’s maid also offered a statement.

“Mr. Tozzer was deeply saddened by the sticker,” she said. “Mainly because his diamond-encrusted sticker removal tool is currently in the shop.”

Sources close to the billionaire watchdog report he remains committed to serving the public despite the hardships associated with managing his fleet of private helicopters, offshore islands, and collection of solid-gold lawn mowers.

In all seriousness, the growing sticker campaign raises a larger question.

If one thing has become clear during this election season, it is that this does not appear to be a campaign focused on elevating Commissioner Mike French or communicating his accomplishments over the last four years.

Instead, it increasingly appears to be a campaign centered on attacking Jake Seegers, his supporters, and the people working on his campaign.

Voters can decide for themselves whether that strategy reflects confidence in an incumbent’s record—or a lack of one.

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Today’s Tidbit: Blurred Lines

A recent email exchange between a Clallam County resident and the Elections Department raises troubling questions about political neutrality inside the office responsible for administering our elections.

The resident contacted Elections Manager Ian Hillway after learning that Alex Fane, a prominent leader with Indivisible Sequim, was involved in ballot collection activities. Concerned about appearances and public confidence, she asked whether someone from the opposite political perspective could accompany him.

Hillway responded by explaining that ballot retrieval crews work in teams of two and that chain-of-custody procedures are in place.

Fair enough. But then came the surprising part.

Hillway encouraged the resident to contact the Democratic Party, Republican Party, or the League of Women Voters if she wanted observer training and a better understanding of the election process.

The problem is that many Clallam County residents no longer view the League of Women Voters as a nonpartisan organization.

Whether you agree with the League’s positions or not, the organization has repeatedly inserted itself into political issues that align overwhelmingly with one side of the political spectrum. Yet the Elections Department continues presenting the League as some kind of neutral alternative between Democrats and Republicans.

That should concern everyone.

The Elections Office should not be endorsing, promoting, or directing citizens toward political advocacy organizations under the banner of nonpartisanship. Public trust in elections depends on election officials maintaining both actual neutrality and the appearance of neutrality.

County Auditor Shoona Riggs oversees the Elections Department and is herself on the ballot this November. Residents who believe election officials should remain completely independent of outside political organizations may wish to ask why the League of Women Voters continues to be promoted as a supposedly nonpartisan election resource.

If you share these concerns, contact the Clallam County Elections Office at elections@clallamcountywa.gov and respectfully ask that references to the League of Women Voters be removed from future election-related guidance and outreach materials.

Regardless of political affiliation, election offices should be above politics—not steering citizens toward organizations that many voters no longer trust to be politically neutral.

Public bathrooms filled with drug paraphernalia. Growing encampments beside businesses and grocery stores. Fallout over shower vouchers at the pool during children’s activities. Taxpayer-funded tribal facilities openly advertising racial hiring preferences. Across the county, frustration continued to build this week as residents increasingly questioned whether local leaders were expanding services faster than they could responsibly maintain them.

Public Bathrooms, More Bathrooms, and A City Struggling To Maintain Them

One of the most discussed local posts this week came from a resident who said they discovered drug paraphernalia and biohazard conditions inside the public bathrooms behind Red Goose Shoes while cleaning trash around downtown Port Angeles. The resident said no one answered when they tried calling the listed number to report the conditions. “Kinda represents how bad this town has gotten,” the post read. The resident added they would not handle “drug paraphernalia or items with bodily fluids.”

The post surfaced after comments by Port Angeles City Councilmember Mark Hodgson, who recently pushed to keep all three city bathrooms open 24 hours a day while identifying locations for two more. That proposal came despite city staff warning that the Parks Department has spent nearly half a million dollars cleaning outdoor restrooms since 2023. Staff described syringes flushed into plumbing, repeated vandalism, biohazards, and safety concerns. One employee reportedly admitted: “We don’t clean everything that we should… I wouldn’t take my kids there.”

Staff had already discussed scaling back operations because they reportedly lack sufficient staffing to maintain the current system. But to many residents online, the issue is no longer simply about bathrooms. It is about priorities — expanding services first and dealing with the consequences later.

Sequim Encampment Debate Explodes Online

Another local post questioned why a growing homeless encampment near the QFC in Sequim continues to expand openly beside businesses and grocery stores. The post exploded to 343 comments on Nextdoor. The resident also expressed frustration after reportedly being warned by Nextdoor to be more “kind,” sparking debate over whether residents can openly discuss encampments, garbage, and deteriorating public spaces without backlash.

Fallout Continues Over Pool Shower Voucher Program

Social media fallout continued this week after the William Shore Memorial Pool Board reinstated its controversial shower voucher program, with residents debating whether a family recreation facility should also function as part of the county’s broader harm reduction and homelessness infrastructure.

Separate Tribal Workshop Raises More Questions

The Washington State Department of Commerce announced applications are now open for the 2027–29 Building for the Arts Program, offering grants up to $2 million for construction, renovation, and acquisition of arts and cultural facilities. What immediately caught attention online, however, was the structure of the workshops being offered.

Commerce announced a general workshop on June 3 and a separate tribal workshop on June 4. The program specifically lists tribes and nonprofit cultural organizations as eligible applicants.

Why do tribes continue to receive separate access, workshops, preferences, and funding pathways while many non-tribal organizations struggle financially? Some openly questioned how governments can continue promoting race-based preferences and separate opportunities while simultaneously claiming equity and equal treatment.

Jamestown Facility Hiring Raises More Questions

The Jamestown Corporation continues staffing its new psychiatric and residential treatment facility. One newly advertised position is for a Culinary Wellness Manager/Chef at the Tribe’s new 16-bed treatment center, with an annual salary range of $69,892 to $97,848. The posting states that experience working with Tribal communities is strongly preferred and that “American Indian/Alaska Native preferences apply.”

Another Jamestown Healing Clinic position tied to MAT and behavioral health transportation operations advertised salaries ranging from $62,403 to $87,365. Responsibilities include managing transportation grants, coordinating transit systems, supervising transportation drivers, processing transportation billing, and educating patients on transportation etiquette. The posting again included “American Indian/Alaska Native preferences apply.”

We are watching the continued expansion of a publicly funded addiction and behavioral health industry with racial hiring preferences openly attached to taxpayer-supported facilities.

Sign Controversy

Why These Supreme Court Races Matter

One article gaining significant traction this week came from Shane Kidwell’s Substack. The article breaks down all 14 candidates running for 5 Washington Supreme Court seats this year and argues that the races may determine the future of Washington’s income tax, the $3.9 billion pension sweep, natural gas initiative litigation, sheriff decertification laws, and broader constitutional questions.

The article argues that most voters know little or nothing about judicial candidates because the races appear low on ballots during traditionally low-turnout elections. Whether readers agree with the conclusions or not, the piece is deeply sourced and highlights how significant these races could become for Washington’s future.

David Rogers Challenges City Leaders To Walk The Areas

Remember David Rogers, whom Jake Seegers recently interviewed? This week, Rogers posted a public letter to the Port Angeles City Council after attending a recent meeting on environmental concerns surrounding the proposed Brix Marine project and potential impacts on creeks and beaver habitats.

Rogers challenged councilmembers to apply that same level of environmental concern to areas impacted by unmanaged encampments. He invited city councilmembers to personally walk impacted areas with him and specifically referenced discarded batteries, hazardous waste, propane tanks, open flame cooking, and environmental degradation occurring around encampments.

The comments resonated strongly online with residents who believe businesses and property owners are increasingly held to stricter environmental and operational standards than unmanaged encampments and transient activity.

Indivisible’s Threshold For “Rude”

Backed by the League of Women Voters, Indivisible says displaying signs on public property that don’t align with their “values” is rude. Also from Indivisible:

From the Scanner

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Another campaign sign gets destroyed. A county commissioner defends property destruction as a path to change. Overdose deaths fall—but who deserves the credit? Meanwhile, repeat offenders cycle through the system, activist groups fracture from within, and parents are warning each other about terrifying encounters at local parks. This week’s Social Media Saturday dives into the posts, photos, scanner chatter, and community debates shaping life in Clallam County—and asks the question many residents are already asking themselves: are things really safer than they were four years ago?

The One-Sided Sign War Continues

The Seegers campaign is spending time, money, and volunteer energy bringing every campaign sign into full PDC compliance after concerns over font sizing that could expose the campaign to $30,000 in penalties.

But compliance issues aren’t the campaign’s only problem. Signs are now disappearing.

One newly updated and fully compliant sign was recently stolen and destroyed. The metal stake was left behind, and an engaged CC Watchdogger captured the incident on camera.

And if there’s one thing people in Clallam County know by now, it’s this: if anyone can solve a mystery, it’s the CC Watchdog community.

With filing week now closed, the race for County Commissioner is officially a two-man contest between Jake Seegers and incumbent Commissioner Mike French.

That makes the contrast even sharper. Commissioner French has publicly stated that “property destruction is not only fine, it’s usually the only way we’ve ever seen actual change happen.”

But there’s another way to create change.

Build something.

Find a candidate you believe in. Donate. Knock on doors. Put signs out legally. Volunteer. Engage your neighbors. Participate in the process.

Whether residents support Jake Seegers or Mike French, many are discovering that building something you believe in is a lot more rewarding than destroying something you dislike.

Who Really Reduced Overdose Deaths?

Operation Shielding Hope launched in 2024 as a partnership between police, fire personnel, and community organizations focused on reducing overdose deaths and connecting survivors to treatment immediately after crisis intervention.

Commissioner Mark Ozias credited the county’s harm reduction efforts for a 33% reduction in overdose deaths compared to 2023. But the timeline suggests another major factor: the launch of Operation Shielding Hope by the Port Angeles Fire Department.

Unlike traditional harm reduction programs focused on distributing supplies, Shielding Hope emphasizes immediate paramedic response, relationship-building, and treatment referrals after overdoses.

Before the program, roughly 60% of overdose survivors reportedly refused help. Under Shielding Hope, officials say 78% engaged with services, compared to just 3% without paramedic intervention.

By May 2025, Fire Chief Derrell Sharp reported overdose deaths had dropped sharply, and Clallam County fell from having the second-highest overdose rate in Washington to outside the top ten.

Most overdoses occur in Port Angeles—the exact area where Shielding Hope operates. The timing aligns. The results appear measurable.

Which raises a political question heading into election season: if overdose deaths are declining because of a fire department-led treatment program, will county leaders credit the Port Angeles Fire Department—or frame the success as validation of expanded county harm reduction policies?

Justin Cox Is Back

Residents may remember Justin Cox from previous arrests involving stolen vehicles, methamphetamine possession, resisting arrest, and damaging emergency vehicles.

Then came the Carlsborg standoff last year.

According to law enforcement, Cox allegedly fired 25 to 30 rounds from an AK-style rifle toward deputies and armored vehicles after barricading himself inside a home and threatening officers.

Investigators say he claimed to be “the Messiah,” threatened to kill law enforcement, and used an elderly resident as cover while armed.

The situation escalated into a full tactical response involving crisis negotiators, armored vehicles, and chemical munitions before Cox was eventually arrested. No one was killed.

Now he’s back.

This week, Cox was arrested for obstructing law enforcement, resisting arrest, reckless endangerment, unlawful firearm possession, malicious mischief, felony harassment, and assault charges.

At the recent Public Safety Town Hall, attendees were asked whether Clallam County feels as safe today as it did four years ago. Out of 172 attendees, only three said yes.

One of them was Commissioner Mike French.

Is the League of Women Voters Really Nonpartisan?

At the national level, Indivisible openly aligns with Democratic Party causes and activism. They say so themselves.

No mystery there.

Indivisible Sequim has also publicly encouraged Democratic voter turnout in newsletters and organizing efforts.

Again—that’s their right.

But questions are increasingly being raised about organizations that simultaneously claim neutrality while appearing consistently aligned with one side politically.

This week, an Indivisible Sequim member posted about organizations supporting their efforts, including the League of Women Voters.

That caught people’s attention.

The League of Women Voters strongly markets itself as “nonpartisan,” which gives it credibility in election monitoring, civic engagement, and local government participation.

But critics increasingly argue the organization functions as functionally partisan while maintaining the protective branding of neutrality.

Residents searching for examples of the League supporting conservative causes or Republican candidates locally are struggling to find them.

Fair or unfair, skepticism is growing. And once public trust starts eroding, rebuilding it becomes difficult.

Trouble Inside Indivisible Sequim

Indivisible Sequim itself appears to be facing internal strain. Founder PJ Harris recently posted online that she was “in tears because I’m weary,” suggesting too few members are carrying the workload.

At the same time, critics continue accusing the organization of ideological gatekeeping—claiming people are excluded if they do not fully align with climate activism and social justice politics.

Meanwhile, former Sequim School Board member Jim Stoffer, who serves in a security-related role within the organization, has been accused of pushing out members who engage with CC Watchdog content.

Whether those accusations are fully fair or not, the organization appears increasingly fractured. And some are asking whether ideological purity tests are contributing to dwindling participation.

What Happened to Beth?

Earlier this week, an Indivisible Sequim member named Beth posted concerns about feeling unsafe and vulnerable online, expressing interest in blocking people who disagree with her politically.

That might sound understandable in today’s climate. But prior social media posts tell a different story.

Back in 2019, Beth expressed concerns many local residents shared: homelessness, drug use, garbage, public disorder, and rising crime. At the time, she appeared focused on practical solutions and concern for the community.

Fast forward several years, and her online rhetoric became dramatically more aggressive. Last year, she openly mocked the murder of political activist and commentator Charlie Kirk after he was killed while exercising his free speech rights.

That transformation raises uncomfortable questions.

How does someone move from concerned community member to celebrating political violence?
What role do activist echo chambers play?
What role do fear-based political messaging and social media radicalization play?

And perhaps most importantly: What has happened to civility in Clallam County?

A Frightening Warning From Carrie Blake Park

One of the most alarming social media posts this week came from a mother in Sequim warning parents after a terrifying encounter at Carrie Blake Park. According to her account, a man approached while her two-year-old daughter was on a swing and repeatedly demanded the child, telling the mother he “wanted” her daughter and “wouldn’t hurt” her.

The mother said she struggled to free her daughter from the swing as the man continued approaching. She eventually escaped and ran for help while calling the police. The suspect reportedly fled before officers arrived.

The post spread rapidly across community pages, with many parents expressing fear and frustration. And again the question resurfaced:

Are residents really safer today than they were four years ago?

Craig Gallauher: Out Already?

This week, social media lit up with warnings about Craig Gallauher allegedly riding throughout Sequim near parks, trails, and children’s areas.

Posts described him frequenting the Railroad Bridge area and various public spaces.

What shocked many residents was that Gallauher had already been arrested last year in connection with disturbing allegations involving children near a campsite south of Railroad Bridge Park.

According to law enforcement, two children told investigators Gallauher attempted to persuade them to remove their clothes and sit in what he allegedly called a “sex chair” at his encampment.

The children fled. Detectives later located a campsite matching their descriptions. Gallauher was arrested on multiple felony charges involving attempted sexual exploitation of minors and luring. Now residents are asking the obvious question:

Why is someone accused of crimes like this already back on the streets around public parks and trails?

Another Disturbing Park Incident

Another troubling social media post circulated after parents reported a man approaching children and asking to push them on swings and play on playground equipment.

One parent claimed the man was hiding inside a slide waiting for children to come down. When confronted by several fathers and asked whether he had children at the park, he reportedly answered, “No.”

Parents said several children were frightened. When people discussed recording him and waiting for the police, the man allegedly ran toward the bathroom area before later riding around near Sequim Middle School during volleyball activities.

The mother who shared the post said her goal was simply awareness and vigilance.

“Watch your babies closely,” she wrote. “NO child should ever feel this way.”

For many residents, incidents like these fuel growing concerns that Clallam County no longer feels as safe as it once did.

Flashback: Jim Stoffer and the Vigil

For this week’s social media flashback, we return to November 2021.

Former Sequim School Board member Jim Stoffer had just received a community service award while simultaneously facing criticism and censure efforts involving allegations of disclosing confidential school board information.

That controversy sparked intense political division locally.

Among those publicly rallying to Stoffer’s defense was Tim Wheeler—Sequim’s well-known communist activist—who organized a public vigil on Stoffer’s behalf.

Even Jamestown S’Klallam Chairman Ron Allen submitted a public letter defending Stoffer’s integrity and character.

In small-town politics, alliances can get complicated quickly.

Scanner Chatter of the Week

And finally, another week of scanner traffic brought more reports involving drugs, repeat offenders, disturbances, thefts, mental health crises, and transient-related incidents throughout Clallam County.

Many residents say they feel the county is changing rapidly—and not for the better. Others insist progress is being made. But one thing is undeniable:

Public safety, addiction, homelessness, and political accountability are no longer fringe issues in Clallam County.

They are now front-and-center election issues.

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West End Seegers Event Tomorrow

The article sparked a fiery debate online—and exposed just how divided the Olympic Peninsula has become over public land, public access, and who gets to control the conversation.

For years, local residents have raised concerns that more and more public land is quietly moving toward tribal control, co-management, or federal arrangements that reduce local input. Now the debate is front and center.

Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Vice Chair Loni Greninger told KUOW:

“If we’re able to remove some of that less-local control from us, we are able to care for the land more deeply and, I would say, more correctly because we are here and we know the land. We’re intimate with it.”

Greninger continued:

“When these ancestral territories were taken from us in the old days, this is a chance for us to come back to our family. It’s like a family reunion, and we get to bring our family back into our arms.”

What the article never really addresses is the financial side of this arrangement. Taxpayers would still largely foot the bill for land management, infrastructure, and restoration efforts. The public loses direct control, but continues paying for it. The tribe receives the authority, prestige, and long-term leverage. The taxpayer receives the invoice.

And if you think people should at least be allowed to debate that publicly without censorship… well, welcome to the next story.

“Protecting Democracy” By Controlling What You’re Allowed To Read

Backed by the League of Women Voters, local Indivisible groups are now openly discouraging members from sharing articles from CC Watchdog.

One administrator posted:

“This group discourages re-posting article from entities (for example, CC Watchdog) who do not align with our values. Re-posting is AMPLIFYING their voices and will be removed.”

Interesting.

Because CC Watchdog’s values are transparency, accountability, viewing public records, government oversight, and giving ordinary residents a louder voice than the entrenched special interests.

So what exactly are the conflicting “values” here?

Apparently asking uncomfortable questions is now considered dangerous. Apparently allowing competing viewpoints is now “harmful.” Apparently democracy now requires approved reading lists.

The irony is difficult to ignore. A movement that constantly warns about authoritarianism is simultaneously policing speech, limiting discussion, and deciding which local news sources people are permitted to share.

You can’t spend years screaming about fascism while moderating Facebook comments like a hall monitor for approved political thought.

If your ideas are strong, you don’t need censorship to protect them.

Picking Up Garbage Apparently Makes You A White Nationalist Now

Speaking of Indivisible…

One member posted:

“Sounds familiar? The Seegers campaign is full of clean up photo ops.”

The comment linked to a CBS News story titled: “When the volunteer helping after a hurricane is a white nationalist.”

Let’s discuss.

County commissioner candidate Jake Seegers participates in cleanups of Tumwater Creek. He picks up discarded needles from beaches. He removes tires and trash from shorelines. He volunteers downtown during community cleanup events.

And somehow… that now invites comparisons to white nationalism?

That’s the argument?

At some point, political tribalism becomes parody. When cleaning garbage from salmon habitat is treated as extremist behavior, maybe the problem isn’t the volunteers.

Maybe the problem is a political culture so consumed by ideology that it can no longer recognize ordinary civic responsibility.

Perhaps it’s time for the League of Women Voters to reconsider which organizations it chooses to amplify.

Sad, But Understandable

Keep Olympic Hot Springs Road Closed Forever?

Despite widespread support for reopening Olympic Hot Springs Road and restoring vehicle access into the Elwha Valley, some activists are openly advocating for permanent closure.

One local commenter wrote:

“The best possible outcome for the Elwha River and its watershed, it’s to abandon the road and attempts to rebuild it.”

That argument may sound familiar.

Residents heard many of the same claims during the Towne Road controversy. The public was told road access was environmentally problematic—until disaster struck. A home caught fire. Emergency responders were forced into a lengthy detour. A family became homeless, and their dogs died.

Infrastructure debates often sound abstract until emergencies happen.

What happens if a major wildfire erupts deep inside Olympic National Park and Olympic Hot Springs Road becomes the fastest access route for emergency crews? What happens when public access disappears permanently in the name of a “temporary” environmental necessity?

Road closures have consequences beyond recreation brochures and environmental slogans.

Socialism Comes To The Library

Socialism has officially arrived on the Olympic Peninsula—and apparently it now comes with library programming.

At the Port Angeles Public Library, residents are being invited to learn what socialism is and why they should join the movement.

One featured volunteer activity? Helping weed the Jamestown Tribal garden because funding was lost.

That’s where things become especially fascinating.

The Jamestown Corporation has publicly celebrated generating more than $100 million annually for a tribe with roughly 200 local members. Yet residents are simultaneously being encouraged to volunteer their labor because the organization needs help maintaining gardens.

There may not be a more perfect real-world socialism lesson than this:

The working class volunteers pull weeds while the connected institutions accumulate wealth, land, influence, and government partnerships.

No textbook required.

Narcan Today… Harm Reduction Classes Tomorrow?

With the passage of the North Olympic Library System levy—and growing discussions about distributing Narcan through libraries—it raises an obvious question:

How long before local libraries follow the example of the Seattle Public Library and begin hosting harm reduction training workshops?

One Seattle training was hosted by the People’s Harm Reduction Alliance, an organization with connections to Clallam County.

Its Operations Director is Lisa Al-Hakim.

Al-Hakim previously worked for Clallam County Health and Human Services as a Harm Reduction Specialist.

Residents have increasingly questioned where the line exists between libraries, activism, healthcare outreach, and political advocacy—and whether taxpayers ever truly voted for that transformation.

Meanwhile, On The Police Scanner…

Another week on the Olympic Peninsula, another stream of chaos over the airwaves:

But don’t worry.

The real threat, apparently, is people picking up garbage and sharing the wrong Facebook articles.

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Today’s Tidbit: 🚨 NEXTDOOR ALERT 🚨

William on Nextdoor stated that CC Watchdog posts first-source documentation that may challenge their ideologies and make them uncomfortable.

Frequent commenter Jon also reminded everyone that “well spoken dialogue” is frightening.

Jon, please keep monitoring William closely while defending democracy from dangerous outbreaks of independent thought. Here’s Jon fighting fascism in front of the courthouse during a recent Indivisible rally.

Reddit commenters are labeling county commissioner candidate Jake Seegers “MAGA in a Patagonia jacket” and accusing him of attacking harm reduction and criminalizing homelessness. But are they actually debating his policies—or simply using national political labels to shut down discussion? Read the attacks against Seegers for yourself, compare them to his published priorities, and decide whether this online discussion is really about public safety, accountability, and quality of life in Clallam County—or just another attempt to turn local politics into a national culture war.

First — Come Meet Jake Today!

🌲🎪 Head to the FREE Sequim Logging Show today and stop by the Clallam County Watchdog booth starting at 4pm to meet county commissioner candidate Jake Seegers!

🪵 Support one of Sequim’s favorite traditions while enjoying great food, vendors, logging events, and community fun for the whole family!

🪧 Need a Jake yard sign?
We’ve got signs available!

⚠️ Already have a Jake sign?
We’ll give you FREE stickers to bring signs into compliance and help the campaign avoid a potential $30,000 fine.

🏔️ Also, stop by and sign the petition to reopen Olympic Hot Springs Road and restore access to Olympic National Park through the Elwha entrance!

🤝 Jake looks forward to meeting you, hearing your concerns, and talking about the future of Clallam County.

📍 Sequim Logging Show
🕓 Starting today at 4pm
🎟️ FREE admission

Come celebrate the hardworking spirit, history, and community that make Clallam County special! 🌲🇺🇸

Can’t make it? See you tomorrow at the Logging Show starting at 11am.

Reddit vs. Reality

Over the last several weeks, Reddit threads discussing county commissioner candidate Jake Seegers have exploded with accusations, labels, and assumptions.

Reddit Thread #1

Reddit Thread #2

Some commenters raised legitimate questions. Others launched into sweeping political attacks that say more about modern online discourse than they do about Clallam County itself.

And since my name keeps coming up repeatedly in those discussions, let’s address it directly.

Yes, I’m Jeff Tozzer.
Yes, I run CC Watchdog.
And yes, I’m Jake Seegers’ campaign manager.

Now let’s talk about the actual substance of what’s being said.

“MAGA Candidate”

One commenter described Jake as:

“He’s a MAGA conservative with a fresh coat of ‘environmentalism’ and a Patagonia jacket.”

Others echoed similar sentiments:

“Yeah reading his stances I classify him for me as MAGA not Independent by a long shot.”

And another claimed:

“He’s a hardcore Trump supporter trying to manipulate people into supporting him.”

Okay.

What specifically are the “MAGA” stances?

That’s not a dodge. It’s a serious question.

Is wanting safer public spaces “MAGA”?
Is questioning harm reduction outcomes “MAGA”?
Is asking whether taxpayer-funded programs are working “MAGA”?
Is wanting cleaner waterways “MAGA”?
Is supporting public accountability “MAGA”?

Because when you actually read Jake’s priorities page, you’ll find views about:

• public safety,

• affordable housing,

• accountability,

• permitting reform,

• economic growth,

• environmental stewardship,

• and measurable outcomes.

Those are local government issues.

Yet somehow, in today’s political climate, even talking about public safety or environmental cleanup immediately triggers national political labels.

That should concern everyone.

The Real Point of the Labels

What’s happening here is bigger than Jake Seegers.

Modern political discourse increasingly avoids debating actual policy and instead jumps immediately to identity branding. Once someone is labeled “MAGA,” many people stop asking questions entirely.

That’s the strategy.

The label becomes the argument.

Because it’s much easier to attach someone to a national tribe than it is to debate local outcomes:

• Is downtown Port Angeles cleaner?

• Are fewer people dying from overdoses?

• Are parks and trails safer?

• Are taxpayers getting measurable results?

• Are environmental conditions improving?

• Is government more transparent?

Those are much harder conversations.

“Anti-Tribe”

One commenter identified me as “anti-tribe,” and others say I target the Jamestown Corporation unfairly.

So let me ask directly:

Cut and paste something I’ve written that is anti-tribe.

Seriously.

I’ve asked questions about one of the largest and most politically influential corporations and governments in Clallam County. That is called public commentary, and it used to be called “journalism.”

When a powerful organization:

• seeks control over land,

• requests federal trust transfers,

• influences local policy,

• expands economically,

• acquires property,

• funds political campaigns,

• or seeks co-management arrangements involving public resources,

should local media simply stay silent?

Should nobody ask questions?

Would the same standard apply to:

• Walmart?

• Amazon?

• Rayonier?

• the county government?

• a developer?

• a nonprofit?

• the Port of Port Angeles?

Of course not.

Questioning powerful institutions is not hate.
Criticism is not bigotry.
Public scrutiny is not discrimination.

I’m gay. People criticize me and criticize my articles all the time. Does that automatically make them homophobic?

The 4PA Attacks

Some of the most extreme comments involved 4PA and cleanup efforts near Tumwater Creek.

One commenter described 4PA as:

“If the police had a nonprofit to do things the police aren’t allowed to do.”

The same commenter accused volunteers of:

“Stealing and/or throwing away heirlooms, valuable tools, and the only shelter some people have.”

Cleanup operations around camps deemed abandoned after law enforcement sweeps were also criticized.

Tumwater Creek and the surrounding watershed areas have become environmental disaster zones in some locations:

• garbage,

• human waste,

• needles,

• contamination concerns,

• abandoned camps,

• and debris piles.

Volunteers have spent countless hours removing tons of trash from sensitive habitat areas and public spaces.

So why are the people cleaning up the mess becoming the villains?

That question deserves an honest answer.

Because if environmental stewardship only matters when it aligns politically, then it isn’t really environmental stewardship at all.

“Vacation Rental Owner” and “Hedge Fund Manager”

Another commenter wrote:

“It’s difficult for me to imagine how a former hedge fund manager/vacation rental company owner is going to relate to and support the best interests of the average Clallam County resident.”

Fair enough. That’s a legitimate political concern.

But it’s also worth asking:
Should successful business experience automatically disqualify someone from office?

Jake’s background includes:

• managing businesses,

• operating lodging,

• investing,

• hospitality work,

• substitute teaching,

• ranch work,

• volunteering,

• and direct community involvement.

Reasonable people can decide whether that experience is valuable or not.

But again, that’s a real policy discussion — very different from simply shouting “MAGA.”

“No Solutions”

One commenter argued:

“What I don’t hear is him actually bringing any real solutions to the table.”

Then read his priorities page.

Seriously.

You may disagree with his proposals, but saying he has no solutions while ignoring his actual published platform isn’t fair.

Critique the policies.
Debate the priorities.
Challenge the numbers.

That’s healthy.

But too much of this discussion has devolved into guilt-by-association and national political branding instead of serious local debate.

The Bigger Problem

This is what local politics has become across America.

School board races become national culture wars.
County races become ideological tribal battles.
Local concerns get swallowed by presidential politics.

And once that happens, actual community outcomes become secondary.

Maybe Jake Seegers wins.
Maybe Mike French wins.

But voters deserve a debate centered on:

• public safety,

• housing,

• homelessness,

• environmental conditions,

• taxes,

• accountability,

• and quality of life in Clallam County.

Not just another round of “MAGA” accusations designed to shut down discussion before it even starts.

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A candidate’s kids find attack ads plastered across downtown. A citizen offers to expand a controversial shower program. A fugitive is tracked down by K-9. And a suspect in a child exploitation case walks free. Add in activist rhetoric, political targeting, and policy contradictions—and you start to see the pattern. Welcome to this week’s Social Media Saturday.

Stickers, Kids, and a Lesson in Respect

Thursday night’s meetup at Barhop in Port Angeles brought out a strong crowd to meet 24th Legislative District candidate Marcia Kelbon. Jake Seegers was there too—with his kids.

But on the way out, attendees noticed something else: downtown had been peppered with stickers targeting Seegers, calling him a “carpetbagger” and “out of town real estate investor.”

His kids thought it was funny—spotting their dad’s face hidden around town—but Seegers used the moment as a teaching opportunity: respect property, and focus on debating ideas—not tearing people down.

Because here’s the reality: someone now has to clean that up. Either business owners remove them from benches and railings, or taxpayers fund city crews to scrape them off public property.

And here’s where the double standard comes into focus. Some of Clallam County’s own elected commissioners have openly placed stickers on their county-issued laptops—public property—and defended it as a form of personal expression.

So when defacing public surfaces becomes “expression” in one context, but a nuisance in another, it’s fair to ask: where’s the line?

And this morning? Seegers is out volunteering in the “Big Spring Spruce Up,” helping clean the same downtown others chose to deface.

Which raises a fair question—if you believe in your candidate, why not promote their record instead?

“Mike French has made our county safer.”
“Mike French has made Clallam County more affordable.”

Wear it. Post it. Stand behind it.

But don’t stick it on someone else’s property.

Shower Vouchers and Shifting Boundaries

After the Shore Pool Board unanimously voted to reinstate shower vouchers distributed through the County’s Harm Reduction Center, one local resident took things a step further.

Jon Redmond suggested he might purchase vouchers himself and distribute them—so recipients wouldn’t be limited to morning hours and could access showers alongside families and children throughout the day.

That raises an obvious question: if expanded access is the goal, why not offer that access at his home?

Or better yet—why not direct people to Serenity House? It’s a taxpayer-funded facility, designed as a shelter, and already equipped with showers. The bus goes there for free twice an hour.

Instead, vouchers are being handed out at the Harm Reduction Center alongside drug paraphernalia—pick up a crack pipe cleaning kit, a meth pipe, a “boofing kit,” and a shower voucher, all in the same place.

K-9 Dutch Gets It Done

Credit where it’s due: the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office—and multiple partner agencies—apprehended a Department of Corrections escapee in Carlsborg this week after a coordinated manhunt.

The suspect, 21-year-old Matthew T. Griffis, fled on foot when deputies attempted contact. What followed was a multi-agency response involving local, state, and regional law enforcement.

But it was K-9 “Dutch” who ultimately closed the gap—tracking Griffis to his final location, where he surrendered.

Strong work by law enforcement.

Which makes this worth remembering: at a recent Public Safety Town Hall, Commissioner Mike French was one of just three attendees—out of 172—who said Clallam County is as safe, or safer, than it was four years ago.

Serious Charges, Same-Day Release

Another case raising serious concerns: a 23-year-old Sequim man facing multiple felony charges related to child sexual abuse material was arrested—and then released on personal recognizance.

The investigation was extensive, involving dark web activity, cryptocurrency transactions, and digital concealment tools.

Despite the severity of the charges, the suspect was released with conditions.

So the question becomes unavoidable:

Is Clallam County really safer than it was four years ago?

When Activism Crosses the Line

On Nextdoor, one local activist warned that “the wealthiest white men are a greater threat to safety than the unhoused.”

Swap out the “white” demographic—would that statement be acceptable? Or would it be racist?

This same individual is an educator in the Chimicum School District and is being considered by the county commissioners to fill a vacant position on the Developmental Disability Advisory Committee.

Targeting, Complaints, and Political Theater

Backed by the League of Women Voters, Indivisible has found a new focus: Jake Seegers.

Members are encouraging complaints to the Public Disclosure Commission, labeling him “under fire,” and describing him as a “MAGA in Patagonia clothing.”

The irony? The PDC complaint centers on a technical issue with font size on campaign signs—something the campaign is actively correcting.

At the same time, critics speculate that a photo of Seegers’ daughter holding syringes collected during a beach cleanup might not even be real.

Here’s a simple challenge: If you claim misinformation—prove it.

Point to the exact claim. Provide the evidence.

Otherwise, it’s just noise.

And if you support a candidate? Build them up.

Volunteer. Donate. Promote their ideas.

That’s how elections are supposed to work.

A Warning from Whatcom County

A warning out of Whatcom County is gaining traction—and it’s something worth paying attention to locally.

A county councilmember is raising concerns about new Comprehensive Plan language that reframes land as “unceded” and introduces policies encouraging “Land Back,” land transfers, and expanded co-management.

The key issue isn’t acknowledgment of history—it’s what comes next.

Because once that language is adopted, it becomes the legal foundation for permitting, land use decisions, and future policy direction.

That means impacts on:

• Property rights

• Permitting timelines

• Job creation

• Housing affordability

And once it’s written into policy—it’s no longer theoretical.

It’s enforceable.

Could it happen here?

That depends on how closely people are paying attention.

Another Week on the Scanner

And finally, from the police scanner this week:

More burglaries.
More people slumped behind the wheel of running vehicles.
More out-of-area warrants.

Just another week in Clallam County… but is it safer than it was four years ago?

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From Peninsula College weighing cuts to workforce programs while preserving electives, to public lands being overtaken or quietly transferred, and local officials navigating growing public frustration—this week’s stories highlight a recurring theme: decisions are being made, but not always in alignment with the needs of everyday residents. If you want to understand where Clallam County is headed, pay attention to what’s being cut, what’s being protected, and what’s being ignored.

Peninsula College’s Priorities Under Pressure

Peninsula College is facing a $1.8 million budget gap—and the response raises serious questions.

To close the shortfall, the college is tapping $800,000 in reserves and $240,000 from its foundation. Three staff positions are already gone. Looking ahead, higher-paid employees will face 12 furlough days, alongside retirement incentives.

But here’s where it gets concerning: program cuts are on the table—targeting areas like construction, automotive, office systems, and multimedia communications.

In a region facing a housing shortage and workforce gaps in the trades, these are not just classes—they’re pipelines to economic stability.

At the same time, there are no indications that elective programs like Klallam language courses are being considered for cuts.

Cultural education has value. No one disputes that. But when core workforce programs are on the chopping block while electives remain untouched, it raises a simple question: Are priorities aligned with community needs?

Clean Water—In Theory and In Practice

The League of Women Voters of Clallam County recently promoted a presentation with County Health and Human Services, the Jamestown Tribe, and the Clallam Conservation District focused on clean water—highlighting septic maintenance, pollution control, and protecting local streams.

On paper, it sounds exactly like what the community needs.

But just a few watersheds west, along Tumwater Creek—a salmon-bearing waterway—the reality tells a different story.

There, sections of the creek are being impacted by unmanaged encampments: human waste, discarded needles, space blankets, and other debris scattered through a sensitive habitat that should be protected.

It’s a striking contrast. On one hand, public workshops and presentations about water quality. On the other, visible, ongoing conditions that raise serious questions about enforcement, priorities, and follow-through.

Clean water isn’t just a presentation topic—it’s a responsibility. And for many residents, the expectation is simple: the standards being discussed in meeting rooms should also be applied on the ground.

Eminent Domain and “Land Back” Fears

A post circulating in Onalaska, Washington has residents raising alarms after WSDOT indicated it may acquire private land for fish passage projects.

The language is straightforward: “It is likely necessary to acquire a portion of your property.”

For some, this is routine infrastructure work. For others, it’s part of a broader concern—that public and private lands are increasingly being transferred or repurposed under policies tied to environmental restoration and tribal partnerships.

Whether those fears are justified or not, one thing is clear: when land use decisions happen without widespread public awareness, trust erodes quickly.

And as some locals are already saying—if it can happen there, it can happen here.

Two Photos, One Reality at Tumwater Creek

County Commissioner candidate Jake Seegers captured two images just 50 feet apart along a public trail.

One: pristine Pacific Northwest beauty.
The other: a landscape overtaken by garbage, debris, and the impacts of unmanaged encampments.

It’s a stark visual contrast—and a policy failure in plain sight.

When public land becomes unrecognizable due to illegal camping and lack of enforcement, it’s no longer just a homelessness issue. It becomes an environmental, public safety, and quality-of-life issue.

From “Protestors” to “Protectors”?

Indivisible Sequim may be rebranding.

Where they once identified as “protestors,” some messaging now leans toward “protectors”—a subtle but notable shift that mirrors tactics seen in other movements nationwide.

Whether it’s optics or strategy, the effect is the same: continued focus on national political narratives.

Meanwhile, many residents are asking a different question—who is protecting the local community from the issues happening right here at home?

When Public Land Gets Shut Down

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife officers recently cleared out an encampment at the Morse Creek Wildlife Unit after what they described as a “large volume” of unlawful residents.

The result?

Two and a half tons of trash removed—accumulated in just six months. The debris included drug paraphernalia and even abandoned fishing equipment.

Let that sink in: a public wildlife area effectively closed off because it was overtaken by illegal activity.

This isn’t sustainable—and it’s becoming more common.

Lobbying for Billions While Locals Struggle

Jamestown Corporation CEO Ron Allen was in Washington, D.C. this week advocating for federal funding tied to Puget Sound restoration, emphasizing that shellfish and fisheries are “a way of life.”

There’s no doubt that environmental restoration matters.

But as federal dollars flow into large-scale initiatives, many locals are left wondering how much of that investment translates into tangible benefits for the surrounding communities—and how much is concentrated elsewhere.

Sequim Property Remains a Problem

The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office recovered stolen mail and financial documents on April 16th from a long-troubled property on Old Olympic Highway in Sequim.

No arrests were made.

And for neighbors, nothing has changed.

The property has been out of compliance for years, and despite repeated issues, it continues to generate complaints. It’s another example of enforcement gaps that leave residents feeling unheard.

Federal Contracting—But Only for Some

The Indian Health Service announced expanded efforts to support Indian-owned businesses through the Buy Indian Act, awarding over $515 million in contracts last year.

Supporters view this as economic justice and long-overdue investment.

Critics point to the obvious double standard—questioning whether any program favoring a different group in similar terms would be accepted.

Library Debate Turns Personal

Backed by the League of Women Voters, Indivisible Sequim formed under the founding principles of being “courteous and respectful.” But the activist group had a less-than-courteous take on a recent article by County Commissioner candidate Jake Seegers—calling it “most stupidly idiotic.”

Strong words—but also a bit revealing.

First, a genuine thank you to Dutchtown Spirit and others for drawing attention to the article, because more people reading it means more people understanding what’s actually being proposed: a library system expanding into Narcan distribution, food programs, and lending everything from drones to sewing machines—all while staffing costs rise and four-day work weeks are floated.

Second, it’s worth saying plainly: people can support the library and still ask questions about how it spends money. Those two ideas are not in conflict—they’re part of being an engaged, responsible community.

Third, a lighthearted word of caution—rumor has it some folks at Indivisible Sequim have been excommunicated for reading CC Watchdog. Hopefully, curiosity doesn’t become a punishable offense.

And finally, Bruce—those signs look great, and yes, one would look great on your property.

At the end of the day, spirited debate is healthy. If anything, this moment proves the point: when budgets, priorities, and public services are on the table, people are paying attention—and that’s a good thing.

A Week on the Scanner

If you want a snapshot of where things stand locally, listen to the police scanner:

• Assaults

• Overdoses

• Theft

• Mental health crises

• Warrants

• Indecent exposure

This isn’t abstract policy debate—it’s daily life.