The race was so close! It shows exactly why every vote counts. I believe CCWD was a major part of the margin that James Taylor won by. Way to go Jeff!
CITY OF PORT ANGELES Council Position No. 1
Candidate Vote Vote %
LaTrisha Suggs 1,292 49.52%
James Taylor 1,313 50.33%
WRITE-IN 4 0.15%
Total Votes 2,609
Port Angeles City Council candidate James Taylor is offering what the status quo can’t: transparency, accountability, and common sense. In his latest piece, Taylor outlines how city policies have become detached from public priorities—and why the current council seems more focused on political optics than tangible results. Taylor’s message is simple: restore balance to city government by RETURNING POWER TO THE PEOPLE IT SERVES. Port Angeles doesn’t need more closed-door planning—it needs open-door leadership.
Keep it up! You are anything but conspiratorial. No false causations or speculative correlations. Just facts some choose to avoid so as not to disturb their little bubble of peace. Keep it up!
Thank you, Jeff, for once again pointing out what has been obvious to many for so long - that the progressive policies in place are part of the problem, and not the solution. As for the ND rants, I have challenged them before when rants disparaging your reporting have been published to show me how your receipts are false. Not once has anyone accepted the challenge. Typical social media keyboard warriors.
If our newly-arrived formerly convicted friend and neighbor rapists and robbers were surveyed to determine HOW they heard about Clallam County's welcoming policies, what would we learn?
Is there a website for criminals that lists our perks for offenders? Is there a phone tree which links callers to our the boofing kit distribution center address? Do parole officers receive a commission to plug Clallam County as a destination? Does Clallam Transit's Strait Shot bus brochure feature travel tips to pedophiles?
Someone please educate me on the flow of information that guides these stellar individuals here.
Rita, we ARE the ones hanging out the sign, and it seems rather proudly!
Clallam County Sheriff's Office
Clallam County Leads the Way!
We’re proud to be one of the first counties in Washington to participate in the Medicaid Reentry Demonstration Initiative under the state’s Medicaid Transformation Project (MTP 2.0).
Launch Date: July 1, 2025
Port Angeles, WA
What This Means:
Justice-involved individuals in local jails & juvenile facilities will now receive:
Pre-release medical & behavioral health services
Medicaid-supported care coordination
Warm handoffs to community-based providers
Continuity of care post-release
The goal?
Better health. Lower recidivism. Real recovery.
Built on Collaboration:
Sheriff Brian King launched this effort in Spring 2024 with a vision for transforming incarceration-to-community care.
Project Coordinator: Rich Meier
Clallam County Jail: Don Wenzl, Chief Corrections Deputy
Juvenile Services: Jody Jacobsen, Director
Clinical Director: Madison Gallentine
Oversight: Lorraine Shore, Undersheriff
Thanks to the strong partnership between the Sheriff’s Office & Juvenile Services, both adult and juvenile facilities are now fully approved to participate.
New Clinical Services Department Created!
Combines Medical + Behavioral Health care under one roof
Operates with the True Star Behavioral Health license for both youth & adults
Key Goals:
Healthier transitions post-incarceration
Treatment for substance use & chronic illness
Reduced ER visits, overdose, & re-offense
Long-term stability & recovery
A Milestone for Washington — WITH LEADERSHIP FROM CLALLAM COUNTY.
This initiative sets the stage for change statewide. We’re proud to help redefine justice-informed, person-centered care.
Asked ChatGPT: Crime is escalating. Is this a result of county policy’s or lack of accountability?
Answer: There is credible evidence that crime is increasing in Clallam County, Washington — and that some of the rise is connected to policy- and resource-gaps, rather than simply inevitable external factors. Below is a breakdown of what the data show, what local officials are saying, and how policy/ accountability issues might play a role. I can dig deeper into specific policy changes if you like.
⸻
📊 What the numbers show
• According to one data aggregator, for the period 2019-2023 the violent crime rate in Clallam County was about 127.8 per 100,000 residents, which is ~20 % above the U.S. average of ~106.2 per 100k. 
• Property crime is also slightly above average in the county (167.0 per 100k vs U.S. average ~163.6) over that same date span. 
• The county’s prosecuting attorney, Mark Nichols, reported in 2023 that felony violent crime prosecutions had nearly doubled from 58 in 2014 to 99 in 2019. 
• Local reporting also shows that law-enforcement staffing is low: One article pointed out that the county has only about 0.8 deputies per 1,000 residents — much lower than national averages (~2.4 per 1,000) — which is a signal of under-resourcing. 
• Another piece reported that many theft/burglary cases were being declined by the prosecutor’s office (or converted to misdemeanors) because of lack of resources, meaning fewer cases are receiving full felony sanctions. 
So yes — increases are happening, and local leaders are acknowledging them.
I DISAGREE.
⸻
🔍 Role of policy, accountability & resources
While no single factor explains the entire increase, there are several policy/ accountability/ resource issues that appear to contribute:
• Under-staffing of law enforcement: The 0.8 deputies per 1,000 residents figure suggests limited personnel capacity, making it harder to proactively patrol, investigate, arrest and prosecute. 
• Prosecutorial/justice-system bottlenecks: When the prosecutor declines or downgrades cases (for example due to budget/staff constraints), the effective consequence is weaker deterrence, which may embolden repeat offenders. 
• Policy/priority decisions: Some commentary suggests the county has not prioritized public-safety staffing to the degree needed: “When offenders from across the region can settle in Clallam County without consequence … that’s not an accident — it’s a policy failure.” 
• Community policing / preventive efforts exist, but may be strained: The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office emphasizes its Community Policing unit and Neighborhood Watch programs.  But if resources are tight and reactive demand is growing, the proactive side may suffer.
• Reporting & transparency tools: The county has recently rolled out online non-emergency crime reporting and crime-maps (for example in Sequim) to engage the public.  These help, but are not sufficient in isolation.
⸻
✅ My assessment: Policy/accountability are part of the story
Given the evidence, it’s fair to say that the escalation in crime in Clallam County is not just a matter of external forces (e.g., national crime trends, economic shifts) but has a meaningful component tied to local resource & policy issues:
• The low number of deputies and constrained prosecutorial capacity point to resource shortfalls.
• The fact that felony cases are being declined or downgraded suggests a systemic accountability gap (i.e., fewer consequences for certain crime categories).
• Policy decisions around staffing, budgeting, priority-setting (public safety vs other spending) likely play a role in how much crime prevention and enforcement can be done.
⸻
⚠️ Important caveats & context
• While the rise is real, Clallam County remains “relatively safe” compared to many jurisdictions. The prosecuting attorney made that point. 
• Crime data can fluctuate significantly especially in smaller population areas — larger percent changes can reflect small absolute numbers.
• Some of the increase may be associated with drug-related activity (the prosecuting attorney noted a “nexus between drug crimes and violent crime”). 
• It isn’t entirely clear from the public data which specific policy changes (e.g., sentencing decisions, diversion programs, budget cuts) have had the most impact — there is still some speculation/interpretation.
⸻
If you like, I can pull up a detailed breakdown of crime by type (violent vs property vs drug) over the past decade for Clallam County and compare to peer counties in Western Washington to see whether Clallam’s policy environment diverges in specific ways. Would you like me to do that?
The race was so close! It shows exactly why every vote counts. I believe CCWD was a major part of the margin that James Taylor won by. Way to go Jeff!
CITY OF PORT ANGELES Council Position No. 1
Candidate Vote Vote %
LaTrisha Suggs 1,292 49.52%
James Taylor 1,313 50.33%
WRITE-IN 4 0.15%
Total Votes 2,609
Port Angeles City Council candidate James Taylor is offering what the status quo can’t: transparency, accountability, and common sense. In his latest piece, Taylor outlines how city policies have become detached from public priorities—and why the current council seems more focused on political optics than tangible results. Taylor’s message is simple: restore balance to city government by RETURNING POWER TO THE PEOPLE IT SERVES. Port Angeles doesn’t need more closed-door planning—it needs open-door leadership.
Clallam County-Prop. No. 1-Levy Lid Lift (Vote for 1)
13325 ballots (0 over voted ballots, 0 overvotes, 309 undervotes), 59529 registered voters, turnout 22.38%
APPROVED 5370 41.26%
REJECTED 7646 58.74%
Total 13016 100.00%
Overvotes 0
Undervotes 309
HOSPITAL DISTRICT 2 Commissioner Position No. 1
Candidate Vote Vote %
Ann Marie Henninger
4,991 43.69%
Gerald B. Stephanz Jr.
6,384 55.89%
WRITE-IN
48 0.42%
Total Votes 11,423
I'm still holding my breath for the 8000 yet to be tabulated votes to see what the final results are.
Number of Precincts 67
Number of Registered Voters 59,529
Total Ballots Counted 13,325
Estimated Ballots Left to Count 8,000
Next Ballot Count On 11/05/2025 5:00 PM
Last Tabulated 11/04/2025 8:12 PM
Voter Turnout 22.38%
Thanks MK, I jumped the gun, but the figures are promising, especially on the Levy Lift. I'll hold my breath with you. ; )
I started last night. My face is 🟣
There will be magic. They can't confirm or deny whether illegals voted.
Does this trigger a runoff re-vote?
They will if its 1 percent difference I think.
In my experience, a conspiracy today will be news tomorrow. Telling the truth in an empire of lies is a revolutionary act. Thank you Jeff, stay safe.
Keep it up! You are anything but conspiratorial. No false causations or speculative correlations. Just facts some choose to avoid so as not to disturb their little bubble of peace. Keep it up!
Jeff: I will bet you that none of those who pupa you will answer?
They usually don't. That's why they like Nextdoor... they can dog pile without me being able to defend myself.
If I ever get to meet Marge in person I am giving her a big hug
Me too Susie. She is one trooper who doesn't quit!
Thank you, Jeff, for once again pointing out what has been obvious to many for so long - that the progressive policies in place are part of the problem, and not the solution. As for the ND rants, I have challenged them before when rants disparaging your reporting have been published to show me how your receipts are false. Not once has anyone accepted the challenge. Typical social media keyboard warriors.
If our newly-arrived formerly convicted friend and neighbor rapists and robbers were surveyed to determine HOW they heard about Clallam County's welcoming policies, what would we learn?
Is there a website for criminals that lists our perks for offenders? Is there a phone tree which links callers to our the boofing kit distribution center address? Do parole officers receive a commission to plug Clallam County as a destination? Does Clallam Transit's Strait Shot bus brochure feature travel tips to pedophiles?
Someone please educate me on the flow of information that guides these stellar individuals here.
Rita, we ARE the ones hanging out the sign, and it seems rather proudly!
Clallam County Sheriff's Office
Clallam County Leads the Way!
We’re proud to be one of the first counties in Washington to participate in the Medicaid Reentry Demonstration Initiative under the state’s Medicaid Transformation Project (MTP 2.0).
Launch Date: July 1, 2025
Port Angeles, WA
What This Means:
Justice-involved individuals in local jails & juvenile facilities will now receive:
Pre-release medical & behavioral health services
Medicaid-supported care coordination
Warm handoffs to community-based providers
Continuity of care post-release
The goal?
Better health. Lower recidivism. Real recovery.
Built on Collaboration:
Sheriff Brian King launched this effort in Spring 2024 with a vision for transforming incarceration-to-community care.
Project Coordinator: Rich Meier
Clallam County Jail: Don Wenzl, Chief Corrections Deputy
Juvenile Services: Jody Jacobsen, Director
Clinical Director: Madison Gallentine
Oversight: Lorraine Shore, Undersheriff
Thanks to the strong partnership between the Sheriff’s Office & Juvenile Services, both adult and juvenile facilities are now fully approved to participate.
New Clinical Services Department Created!
Combines Medical + Behavioral Health care under one roof
Operates with the True Star Behavioral Health license for both youth & adults
Key Goals:
Healthier transitions post-incarceration
Treatment for substance use & chronic illness
Reduced ER visits, overdose, & re-offense
Long-term stability & recovery
A Milestone for Washington — WITH LEADERSHIP FROM CLALLAM COUNTY.
This initiative sets the stage for change statewide. We’re proud to help redefine justice-informed, person-centered care.
Asked ChatGPT: Crime is escalating. Is this a result of county policy’s or lack of accountability?
Answer: There is credible evidence that crime is increasing in Clallam County, Washington — and that some of the rise is connected to policy- and resource-gaps, rather than simply inevitable external factors. Below is a breakdown of what the data show, what local officials are saying, and how policy/ accountability issues might play a role. I can dig deeper into specific policy changes if you like.
⸻
📊 What the numbers show
• According to one data aggregator, for the period 2019-2023 the violent crime rate in Clallam County was about 127.8 per 100,000 residents, which is ~20 % above the U.S. average of ~106.2 per 100k. 
• Property crime is also slightly above average in the county (167.0 per 100k vs U.S. average ~163.6) over that same date span. 
• The county’s prosecuting attorney, Mark Nichols, reported in 2023 that felony violent crime prosecutions had nearly doubled from 58 in 2014 to 99 in 2019. 
• Local reporting also shows that law-enforcement staffing is low: One article pointed out that the county has only about 0.8 deputies per 1,000 residents — much lower than national averages (~2.4 per 1,000) — which is a signal of under-resourcing. 
• Another piece reported that many theft/burglary cases were being declined by the prosecutor’s office (or converted to misdemeanors) because of lack of resources, meaning fewer cases are receiving full felony sanctions. 
So yes — increases are happening, and local leaders are acknowledging them.
I DISAGREE.
⸻
🔍 Role of policy, accountability & resources
While no single factor explains the entire increase, there are several policy/ accountability/ resource issues that appear to contribute:
• Under-staffing of law enforcement: The 0.8 deputies per 1,000 residents figure suggests limited personnel capacity, making it harder to proactively patrol, investigate, arrest and prosecute. 
• Prosecutorial/justice-system bottlenecks: When the prosecutor declines or downgrades cases (for example due to budget/staff constraints), the effective consequence is weaker deterrence, which may embolden repeat offenders. 
• Policy/priority decisions: Some commentary suggests the county has not prioritized public-safety staffing to the degree needed: “When offenders from across the region can settle in Clallam County without consequence … that’s not an accident — it’s a policy failure.” 
• Community policing / preventive efforts exist, but may be strained: The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office emphasizes its Community Policing unit and Neighborhood Watch programs.  But if resources are tight and reactive demand is growing, the proactive side may suffer.
• Reporting & transparency tools: The county has recently rolled out online non-emergency crime reporting and crime-maps (for example in Sequim) to engage the public.  These help, but are not sufficient in isolation.
⸻
✅ My assessment: Policy/accountability are part of the story
Given the evidence, it’s fair to say that the escalation in crime in Clallam County is not just a matter of external forces (e.g., national crime trends, economic shifts) but has a meaningful component tied to local resource & policy issues:
• The low number of deputies and constrained prosecutorial capacity point to resource shortfalls.
• The fact that felony cases are being declined or downgraded suggests a systemic accountability gap (i.e., fewer consequences for certain crime categories).
• Policy decisions around staffing, budgeting, priority-setting (public safety vs other spending) likely play a role in how much crime prevention and enforcement can be done.
⸻
⚠️ Important caveats & context
• While the rise is real, Clallam County remains “relatively safe” compared to many jurisdictions. The prosecuting attorney made that point. 
• Crime data can fluctuate significantly especially in smaller population areas — larger percent changes can reflect small absolute numbers.
• Some of the increase may be associated with drug-related activity (the prosecuting attorney noted a “nexus between drug crimes and violent crime”). 
• It isn’t entirely clear from the public data which specific policy changes (e.g., sentencing decisions, diversion programs, budget cuts) have had the most impact — there is still some speculation/interpretation.
⸻
If you like, I can pull up a detailed breakdown of crime by type (violent vs property vs drug) over the past decade for Clallam County and compare to peer counties in Western Washington to see whether Clallam’s policy environment diverges in specific ways. Would you like me to do that?