Commissioner Mike French’s reelection Facebook page lights up with polished claims of bipartisan goodwill and moral high ground—connecting his opponent to key groups “no matter who wins” and publicly denouncing smear blogs. A polite email from CC Watchdog seeking simple clarification exposes the gaps. The replies and the record reveal selective memory, private forums recast as public stands, and silence toward crude personal attacks from allies while decrying “innuendo” elsewhere.
The Campaign Posts
Commissioner Mike French’s campaign Facebook page has recently sprung to life with three months remaining in the race for a second term on the Clallam County Board of Commissioners. Two posts stand out.
In one, French tells a constituent he “connected Jake to the West End Business group, so no matter who wins… the next Commissioner already has the right connections to represent the West End.”
In another, he addresses the anonymous blog Salsa Picante, which has targeted his opponent Jake Seegers and Seegers’ former campaign manager (me): “I don’t support anyone making personal attacks or doxxing people. I don’t support the Salsa Picante blogger, who in my opinion is trafficking in innuendo and rumors—I don’t think their articles are factual and I actively encourage my supporters not to share them. For the record, I’ve said all of that in public at a meeting Mr. Tozzer attended, so he knows that I’m not a supporter of Salsa Picante.”
On the surface, these statements project strong leadership: a sitting commissioner mentoring a rival for the good of the district and publicly rejecting smear tactics. But do the claims hold up?
Seeking Clarification
I emailed French’s campaign address seeking clarification.
I asked about the West End Business Group claim, noting my understanding that Jake attended his first meeting before announcing his candidacy, without French’s help. I also asked which public meeting French was referring to regarding Salsa Picante, as I recalled none matching his description.
Hi Mike,
I read the comments under your recent post regarding your reelection campaign for Clallam County Commissioner. A couple of your statements confused me, and I’m hoping you could clarify them.
You wrote:
“I’ve also connected Jake to the West End Business group, so no matter who wins (we’re both from the Port Angeles area), the next Commissioner already has the right connections to represent the West End.”
Could you explain what you meant by saying you connected Jake to the West End Business group? My understanding is that Jake attended his first meeting there before he even announced his candidacy, and I was under the impression that he found and attended that meeting without your assistance. If I’m mistaken, I’d appreciate any clarification you can provide.
You also wrote:
“I don’t support anyone making personal attacks or doxxing people. I don’t support the Salsa Picante blogger, who in my opinion is trafficking in innuendo and rumors - I don’t think their articles are factual and I actively encourage my supporters not to share them. For the record, I’ve said all of that in public at a meeting Mr. Tozzer attended, so he knows that I’m not a supporter of Salsa Picante.”
I’m unaware of any public meeting where you stated that Salsa Picante’s content should not be shared or that its articles are not factual, nor do I recall attending a meeting where you made those remarks. Could you please clarify which meeting you’re referring to and explain how I would know that you are not a supporter of Salsa Picante?
Thank you for taking the time to clarify these points.
Sincerely,
Jeff Tozzer
French replied promptly:
Sure.
After our meeting where the BoCC approved the Clallam Conservation District fee, Jake approached me in person and asked what motivated me to vote no. We talked for a good 10 or 15 minutes, and I told him I had a long discussion about this issue at the West End Business meeting and told Jake when and where they met. He began regularly attending their meetings soon after that conversation. You’re correct that this was before he officially announced his candidacy.
I made those comments about Salsa Picante (without using the name of the blog) at the Realtor’s Association meeting just a short while ago, where you were in attendance. I’m honestly surprised that you don’t remember this. The last question of the forum was literally about your blog, and in answering it I spoke about a left-wing blogger who was trafficking in rumor and innuendo who I didn’t support and encouraged people who wanted to support me to stick to verifiable facts.
Mike
Setting the Record Straight on the West End Claim
County government frequently campaigns against “misinformation.” In that spirit, the record needs correcting.
Start with the West End claim. Jake and Mike did speak after the Conservation District fee vote.
Jake recalls French encouraging him to run for public office—specifically for county assessor. This was in September, a month and a half before Jake announced he was running for county commissioner. When Jake later appeared at his first West End Business Association meeting (also before he announced he was running), French seemed surprised to see him.
The idea to attend those meetings originated in a conversation between Jake and his then-campaign manager (me). French may have mentioned attending the group in passing, but packaging a casual tip as having “connected Jake to the West End Business group” so the district would be well-served regardless of the election outcome stretches the facts into something more self-serving.
The “Public Meeting” That Wasn’t
The second claim also requires scrutiny. Yes, I attended the event and remember French’s remarks. It was not a public meeting. It was a private candidates’ forum hosted by the Realtor’s Association, attended primarily by realtors and industry-connected individuals.
Here is French’s statement from that debate, verbatim:
“In the spirit of disclosure and transparency, Jeff Tozzer is sitting in the room, he’s Clallam County Watchdog, and runs the blog. He’s the former campaign manager for my opponent and he’s the current treasurer for my opponent.
Again, I think that you [speaking to Jake] summarized what he does very well. He’s an opinion blogger who blogs about Clallam County and other—usually public governments—but also nonprofits throughout the area. I generally disagree with what he writes, and I’m happy to talk to anyone about that.
I will say, very clearly, I fully support his American right to criticize government. I think that’s fundamental. What he does, he considers independent journalism, is definitely with an opinion, he definitely has a slant, and he acknowledges that.
But I fully support that right, and there have been people who have tried to get blogs going in opposition from the left, or whatever, and many of those, I think, have criticized him in unfair ways. They’ve put graphics and said things that are blatantly homophobic, and I don’t support that and, you know, if there are people who are trying to do what he did from the left, I would encourage them to be factual and to not—I’m not saying that Jeff’s not factual—but what I’ve seen is people who have started their own blogs trying to oppose Mr. Tozzer and they have not always been factual and I can’t support that.”
That is the full statement. It was not made publicly. It was not at a meeting. French never named Salsa Picante. He did affirm CC Watchdog’s right to criticize government, acknowledged the opinionated nature of the writing, and criticized unnamed left-leaning bloggers for unfair and “blatantly homophobic” attacks.
However, his concerns about untruthfulness, personal attacks, and homophobia could apply to multiple sources of criticism directed at this author.
Selective Outrage and Double Standards
Consider the Clallam County Democrats’ monthly newsletter, which claimed that “Tozzer and Seegers are personally intimidating and threatening and harassing” County Health Officer Allison Berry “regularly.”
These are serious allegations with potential legal implications. When Clallam County Watchdog contacted the Clallam County Democrats and asked for specific examples, the email went unanswered. Such unsubstantiated claims do not align with the factual standards French says he values.
Or consider Paul Pickett, a frequent contributor to Clallam Democrats Rising who has written multiple pieces praising French’s record as commissioner. Pickett posted an image of one dog sniffing another’s rear and labeled it “Clallam County Crotchdog.”
Personal attack? Crude? French offered no public rebuke in that instance.
Then there is Jesse Charles and his regular “Top Down Report” Facebook dispatches (over 1,600 followers). The short clips often cover local news with a focus on Jake Seegers and Clallam County Watchdog.
Charles, a Port Angeles native and Lower Elwha Klallam tribal member, previously served as Director of Mental Health for the tribe (2019–2022) and Director of Youth Operations at Serenity House. He now works as a Social Services Specialist for the Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families.
In one dispatch about me, while wearing a t-shirt with his Lower Elwha Tribal identification, he said: “If he wants to continue dick-riding Seegers. I mean go ahead, but get a room you two.”
Imagine the reaction if Clallam County Watchdog had made comparable sexual jokes about high-profile Democratic figures like the former President and Vice President. Or this scenario: French’s own campaign manager is a female, Navarra Carr. What if I aimed comparable innuendo at them? It would trigger widespread, and warranted, condemnation of me and my “slanted blog.”
Has Mike French publicly denounced the “Top Down Report” from Jesse Charles? No; however, he recently accepted the endorsement of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe.
When a tribal member levels a homosexual personal attack on French’s opponent and that opponent’s former campaign manager, his response has been silence—paired with vague generalities about opposing “innuendo.”
Cherry-Picking Outrage
In 2020, French posted on Facebook that “we need to recognize the damage that’s being done to our boys by misogyny and homophobia and racism,” referencing events in Kenosha, Wisconsin—two thousand miles away.
Selective attention to distant national controversies while remaining quiet about crude local attacks is classic cherry-picking. It is a pattern familiar from both Mike French and the Clallam County Democrats: tokenize and express outrage when politically useful, stay silent when the target is an opponent or the source is an ally.
This is the same county leadership that remained quiet when I was written into a local play as a dog that eats human feces. “Dick-riding” the candidate I support—who aims to put this county on a better path—apparently counts as an upgrade. The League of Women Voters and the Clallam County Democrats often speak the language of civility and anti-hate. Perhaps those standards apply only in June.
What the Record Actually Shows
French’s campaign posts project integrity and leadership. The record—emails, meeting transcripts, and the pattern of selective silence—tells a more complicated story. Voters can decide which version deserves a second term.
Get engaged tomorrow!
Tuesday, August 11 at 7:30 am — the Port Angeles Business Association hosts a candidates’ debate for Clallam County Assessor at Joshua’s Restaurant. Hear Lee Hancock and Antonio Price share their visions for the office, ask your questions, and learn how their plans affect our local business community.
It’s a great chance to raise issues such as assessor office staffing after recent budget cuts, as well as technologies like EagleView aerial imagery, Cyclomedia street-level imaging for property valuation, and private property rights.
PABA often streams and archives these debates on their Facebook page. Breakfast is available for purchase (or a $5 surcharge if you’re just attending). Priority to members, but the public is welcome. Show up, listen, ask questions, and help shape local government.
See you there!
