Good governance or deliberate deception?

Examining the values of Sequim's most influential political group

There are “big signs” that two sides may have something in common. “Nonpartisan” gets redefined. City Council’s land acknowledgment is over-the-top political grandstanding. SGGL gives feedback to CC Watchdog about good governance. After fleeing Eastern Europe, a refugee finds a familiar foe lurking in Sequim.

The five Sequim City Council members who voted to override their own rules and support the Sequim School District’s ballot measure—Dan Butler, Vicki Lowe, Rachel Anderson, Brandon Janisse, and Harmony Rutter—share more than just that decision. Each was endorsed by the Sequim Good Governance League (SGGL), a self-described nonpartisan Political Action Committee (PAC).

SGGL members Dale Jarvis and PJ Harris articulated the group’s guiding principles in a 2022 KPTZ radio interview: "Good governance is based on honesty, integrity, accessibility, inclusiveness, transparency, equity, diversity, competence, accountability, using facts and reason, exhibiting ethical behaviors, and respecting the rule of law."

“I believe far right-wing politics gets more attention because it has this strong element of outrageousness which seems to drive media these days,” Jarvis and Harris told KPTZ. “Far right-wing politics have big yard signs and appears to be everywhere all the time, not just during elections. Most people don’t shout their beliefs like this.”

Ironically, SGGL’s own playbook included a list of strategies. Number 17 was “Big Signs: We put up three large 4’x8’ signs on busy streets asking folks to vote for our city council candidates.”

From the December 2021 Jamestown tribal newsletter.

Selective transparency

An analysis of internal SGGL meeting minutes from early 2021 exposes a gap between its publicly stated mission and actual behind-the-scenes practices. While officially maintaining an independent stance, the group worked diligently to install candidates aligned with its vision while maintaining an official separation from them — a difficult task given that three future council members started the group. Nicole Hartman, Vicki Lowe, and Lowell Rathbun all went on to serve on the Sequim City Council.

Though SGGL claimed nonpartisanship, internal discussions revealed an intent to “flip City Hall.”

Leadership emphasized the need to "build credibility in the community as a nonpartisan watchdog group" while working to install its preferred candidates, stating, "anything this [current] council does can be undone."

“We are going to recruit, train, and elect our representatives.” (Feb. 4, 2021)

Their strategy included advising candidates on when to announce their campaigns and how to control messaging—tactics that undercut the notion of free and fair elections. Meeting notes also reveal that SGGL leaders sought to delay hiring a permanent City Manager until after elections, ensuring an SGGL-aligned council would control the decision.

“If this council hires a City Manager in September, what does that mean for anything we are doing?” (Apr. 1, 2021)​

Members noted that public messaging needed to be carefully curated, with some advocating for message approval before speaking on behalf of SGGL. This raises concerns about whether independent thought was being discouraged within the organization.

“We want to make sure anything we do cannot be held against us in some way.” (Feb. 4, 2021)​

SGGL’s actions suggest a pattern of strategic election influence, ideological bias, and selective transparency, all of which conflict with the principles of good governance. While the organization promotes inclusivity and accountability, its internal strategies indicate a level of political maneuvering that contradicts those ideals.

“Public messaging needs to be carefully curated.” (Apr. 1, 2021)​

One member even questioned SGGL’s definition of “nonpartisan,” only to receive this response: “Most of those who are interested in good governance do lean towards the left.”

Statement of co-existence

Less than a year after forming, five SGGL-endorsed candidates — Vicki Lowe, Kathy Downer, Rachel Anderson, Lowell Rathbun, and Brandon Janisse — won by wide margins. A month later, the Jamestown Tribal Newsletter celebrated tribal member Vicki Lowe’s victory; “Lowe and others formed the Sequim Good Governance League to promote transparency and a focus on local governance, not national issues.”

The newsletter applauded SGGL but chided the outgoing city council: “That Sequim City Council, comprised of mostly appointed members, had become controversial, starting with their opposition to the Tribe’s Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) facility…”

Stacking the Sequim City Council with preferred candidates benefited the Jamestown Tribe, which has significant business interests within the city limits—including Jamestown Family Health, the MAT clinic, and a forthcoming psychiatric treatment facility. The Tribe’s excavation company also secures regular city contracts. In campaign races that typically saw little to no contributions, funding surged as the Tribe made substantial donations to candidates like Lowe ($1,000). Two years later, in 2023, the Tribe donated to Harmony Rutter ($1,200) and Dan Butler ($1,200), both of whom also won.

The relationship between SGGL-backed officials and the Tribe culminated in adopting a "Statement of Co-Existence and Government-to-Government Relationship" on May 28, 2024:

The city that we know as Sequim [sxʷčkʷíyəŋ “soo-ch-kwee-ing”] was once inhabited solely by first peoples known as the S’Klallam [nəxʷsƛ̕áy̕əm̕ “new-sklai-yem”] People, represented by the three Tribal Governments, Jamestown S’Klallam, Port Gamble S’Klallam, and Lower Elwha Klallam. Of these three Sister Tribes, the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe takes the lead in relationships with the City of Sequim while including the two Sister Tribes as determined by the Tribes.

We, the Sequim City Council and our partner, the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, value co-existing respectfully and responsibly together for the purposes of stewarding the people, lands, and the institutions that serve us. Our governments do not work alone in isolation but care for each other’s communities. With enlightened awareness of the local history of this area, we commit to a continued partnership and collaboration as two sovereigns.

This statement of co-existence and government-to-government relationship is a respect to the S’Klallam People and their history.

The statement is printed on every Sequim City Council agenda and read at city meetings quarterly. Every two years, the mayor meets with the Jamestown Tribe to assess whether the acknowledgment remains appropriate. Sequim’s Planning Commission adopted a similar land acknowledgment that appears on every agenda.

Unlike a traditional land acknowledgment, these statements go beyond historical recognition, explicitly defining the relationship between the Sequim City Council and the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe as a "partnership." This framing can be seen as more than a symbolic gesture—it suggests an official endorsement of the Tribe’s role in city governance rather than a neutral acknowledgment.

The agreement emphasizes a "government-to-government relationship," establishing an ongoing, structured collaboration between the city and the Tribe. Given the Tribe’s extensive business interests in Sequim, this arrangement could create an uneven playing field in city decision-making, raising concerns about conflicts of interest and disproportionate influence.

This agreement further blurs the line between governance and special interest influence in the context of SGGL's selective transparency. It raises critical questions: Are city decisions being made with full public input, or are key discussions happening behind closed doors?

Transparency is good (unless it’s negative)

Initially, CC Watchdog viewed SGGL as a partner in promoting transparency, and SGGL shared articles on its Facebook page. However, when Watchdog's articles started to examine government decisions—like the diversion of funds from the Towne Road project to the Tribe—SGGL removed the posts from its Facebook page. SGGL’s leadership declined to clarify their reasoning when asked about the censorship.

Hello, I was just wondering why my last several "Clallam County Watchdog" posts haven't been approved? I just want to make sure I'm not violating any guidelines. Thanks!

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Some were starting to get off topic and numerous. Discussions about whether Towne Road should be open or closed is probably for another community forum. If you can keep it relevant to good governance that would help. Thank you!

CC Watchdog pointed out that the articles about Towne Road were about transparency and accountability and asked SGGL if it was still committed to those values.

It is about promoting transparency and accountability, ethics, etc. SGGL's intent is to be nonpartisan and as such we have endorsed candidates on both sides of the spectrum and hope we continue to have more from both sides that fit the description we are seeking. We want to keep this page informative as to events and actions related to that but also give everyone room to breathe. Towne Rd in and of itself is not a topic to debate here but if you feel there has been a violation of the law or open public meetings act by all means ask the question or provide the information.

After a post about connecting veterans with county services was denied, CC Watchdog contacted SGGL again.

Jeff, the SGGL steering group met to provide feedback to you regarding ccwatchdog posts that you would like us to put up on the SGGL Facebook page. We are familiar with your posts and believe that you bring a different definition of good governance to your work. While your intent is to focus on transparency and accountability, we have observed that the opinions in your posts reflect a consistently negative spin on the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, local governments, our community hospital, taxation, and local nonprofit organizations. We believe that having a watchdog can be important for a community, but your approach is having the effect of tearing the community apart rather than seeking positive solutions that build community; the opposite of what SGGL stands for. Accordingly, we will not be posting any of the ccwatch posts on the SGGL Facebook page.

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Thank you for the response; I appreciate it. Could SGGL provide examples of CC Watchdog's negative spin on the Jamestown Tribe, local governments, our community hospital, taxation, and local nonprofit organizations?

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Jeff, we think you are the best person to evaluate your content. And we see that you cross post your content in several places, so if people want to sign up to receive your notifications, they can easily do so.

When asked who the SGGL board and steering group members were, the organization did not respond. When CC Watchdog inquired if the group supported their endorsed candidates in holding a special meeting and waiving city council rules, they declined to comment. One SGGL board member did admit that she simply found Watchdog’s posts "negative."

The pursuit of happiness

CC Watchdog recently spoke with Sequim resident Victor Laszlo, who was previously featured in the article "Any Means Necessary to Stay in Power: An Immigrant's Perspective on the Direction of the County." In June, Laszlo raised concerns that the communist ideologies his family fled in 1980s Eastern Europe were making a comeback in Clallam County. After reviewing excerpts from SGGL’s meeting minutes and the new land acknowledgment, he wanted to share his thoughts with our readers.

British political philosopher John Locke wrote that governments are instituted to secure people's rights to ‘life, liberty, and property.’ In 1776, when Thomas Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence, ratified on the Fourth of July, he edited out Locke's right to ‘property’ and substituted his own more ambiguous concept: the right to ‘the pursuit of happiness.’

There’s no explanation why the change was made, but my personal opinion is that when the words “all men are created equal” were put to paper, the pursuit of property, could not coexist in the same document, while other humans could be considered property. It took almost 100 years and a Civil War that claimed over 600,000 lives to abolish slavery, led of course by far right-wing politicians, like Abraham Lincoln. Then another 100 years later the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed with a higher percentage of far right-wing politicians in both house and senate voting in favor of ending segregation and discrimination.

But I digress. As a far right-wing citizen, I would love to see the day when we all embrace the true freedom exhibited by our Native American nations in the pursuit of “good governance”, and follow their lead in abolishing all property taxes, so we can be owners of the land, not renters. The current system leads to only one result: higher and higher taxes until a $350,000 home like the one I “owned” in Chicago requires a $700 per month property tax, collected with the threat of foreclosure and eviction at the point of the sheriff’s gun. At least the Globalist Communist Party, will be closer to their stated endgame: “You will own nothing, and you’ll be happy”!

Maybe since we far right-wing citizens abolished slavery and passed the Civil Rights Act, we also need to bring back the original view of the role of government, which was to protect Life, Liberty and The Pursuit of Property.

“We need to win the battle”

Victor Laszlo’s concerns are founded.

SGGL’s strategic approach was deliberate from the start. Meeting notes from February 4, 2021, reveal that founding member Tim Wheeler was tasked with letter-writing efforts. In the minutes, Wheeler said:

"We need to win the battle of ideas and keep our organization in front of people, in the public eye."

Wheeler’s background makes him a natural fit for managing SGGL’s written communications—his five decades in journalism include writing for The Worker and The Daily World, culminating in his tenure as editor of The People’s Weekly World, the official newspaper of the Communist Party USA.

Final thoughts

SGGL claims to champion transparency, accountability, and open dialogue. However, its actions suggest a different reality. By silencing critical voices, refusing to disclose leadership details, and aligning closely with influential political and economic interests, SGGL appears to contradict the very principles it claims to uphold.

There’s one more thing that Councilmembers Vicki Lowe, Rachel Anderson, Brandon Janisse, and Nicole Hartman have in common—their terms are up at the end of this year.

Until Kathy Downer’s resignation last month, every seat on the Sequim City Council was held by an SGGL-endorsed member. Front Row: Council Member Kathy Downer, Deputy Mayor Rachel Anderson, Council Member Vicki Lowe Back Row: Council Member Dan Butler, Council Member Nicole Hartman, Mayor Brandon Janisse, Council Member Harmony Rutter

Last week, subscribers were asked what concerned them most about the financial ties uncovered in the article, and many commented that they wanted to pick more than one option. However, out of 256 votes:

• 45% said, “Potential conflicts of interest.”

• 27% said, “The influence of big donors.”

• 25% said, “Lack of transparency.”

• 2% said, “Nothing, it’s just politics

Get involved

You can share your support, objections, or concerns with the Sequim City Council members by emailing them at: dbutler@sequimwa.gov, vlowe@sequimwa.gov, randerson@sequimwa.gov, bjanisse@sequimwa.gov, hrutter@sequimwa.gov, and nhartman@sequimwa.gov.

Newly appointed councilmember Kelly Burger recently filled Kathy Downer’s vacant seat and has not yet been assigned a city email.