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User's avatar
Dr. Sarah's avatar

Good Governance Daily Proverb

If government exists to meet public needs, then records are how the public checks the work.

Power answers to the people only when its paper trail remains open.

References

Washington State Constitution. (1889). Article I, Section 1 (Political power).

https://leg.wa.gov/state-laws-and-rules/washington-state-constitution/

Washington State Legislature. (n.d.). RCW 42.56.030—Public records—Construction.

https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=42.56.030

Eric Fehrmann's avatar

Thank you.

Denise Lapio's avatar

Jeff, your article pays tribute to those who are forgotten. In my experience with the Records dept., the employees are courteous, helpful, and prompt. They deserve recognition for their contributions to our community. Everyone should do a request at least once, because you never know what buried treasure you'll uncover.

Robert James's avatar

County employees are also not represented by the kommissars and other 'heads of state'.

The ones I have had interaction with are salt-of-the-earth and many of them are close to retiring...what/who comes next?🤓

Evrita Romero's avatar

Thank you Jeff for bringing this information to light. I’m gonna start requesting documents, I'm sick and tired of this under cover, slide of hand, crap our commissioners are doing.

This is off-topic has to do with yesterday’s email about requesting ballots for the election I sent my request that every day that you talked about it think it was a couple of weeks ago. Do you have any idea when they mail those out because I haven’t seen one yet has anybody else that requested one?

Jeff Tozzer's avatar

Go get 'em, Rita! No one has their ballots yet because the CCD doesn't even know who is running for that position. They are still accepting candidates for that position. It has to be the only vote in the world where you have to request your ballot before you know who is running.

Evrita Romero's avatar

Right?! Bunch of bolognasause!

Michael Heath's avatar

Gee, that makes me wonder just how much time "we" (voters) will really have to do our due diligence to investigate the candidates and to decide on who we will vote for? Also, as the clock for voting "ticks down" by the day, before we even get our ballots, how much time will "we" have to again request a ballot if we do not receive one via our first request??? We have a "date certain" that is set in "concrete" for the election & receipt of our ballots, so receiving our executed ballots ASAP is important, but "if" sending out the ballots is delayed, or somehow not sent out by "accident", we would be actively barred from addressing that issue or possibly from even voting at all.... Ha! Oh, I am sure that "they wouldn't do that"~! HA! Famous last words ;-) We shall see what shenanigans unfold in "Shenanigan Land"~!

Sincerely, Mike

Techno's avatar

Hey Jeff, do you think Judy Larsen would consider running again?

Jeff Tozzer's avatar

Great question, but I haven't heard.

Techno's avatar

If anyone here knows Judy, could you ask her if she’s still interested in being part of CCD? She’s got my vote.

ABeetlebaum's avatar

We requested ballots - but nothing yet - too soon.

Lawrence Martin's avatar

Wow. Interesting subject. Thank you.

Kristin's avatar

None of these revelations came from official announcements. None were volunteered. Every single one surfaced because ordinary citizens submitted public records requests through the Clallam County Public Records Office. ---- they don't realize they woke the giant (us citizens)

Michael Heath's avatar

Nice work Jeff Tozzer~!

Have a fun weekend~!!!

Sincerely, Mike

Garry Blankenship's avatar

Great information; thank you.

MK's avatar

I like this article a lot.

Making a public records request, and then sifting through what's provided is something to be considered. If your request isn't narrow in focus you're likely going to get a volume of information that you may not anticipate the work load required to read it all and understand it.

It's my understanding that AI tools can accelerate some of the review, but ultimately the requester will be tasked with finding and piecing together information.

As such, specificity matters. As an example. For email requests consider:

- date ranges when the anticipated activity occurred

- key words specific to the topic you're interested in to cut through the extraneous stuff (chaff)

- internal, internal and external, or just external emails

- specific email addresses

- etc

Kathy's avatar

On the other hand I've submitted requests that weren't quite polished, received very lengthy results, sifted through them and found some not-related interesting stuff I wasn't counting on. I do agree though if you don't want your eyeballs permanently crossed from reading, narrow it down as best you can.

MK's avatar

This is true especially about finding interesting not-related stuff.

Kathy's avatar

Like opening the Cracker Jack box and finding the surprise inside :)

No One Important's avatar

Maybe our requests should be SEND ME EVERTHING and let our computers search for what we're interested in.

MK's avatar

Try it and let us know how it goes :)

No One Important's avatar

Better not-- I only have 30TB of disk space!

John Worthington's avatar

I have been doing it for years. Then after I get the document I "go run tell."

Nothing raises the cost of your pelt more than the "go run tell."

I have 20 some court cases all based on the "go run tell" model.

Even ones were I lost cases so the statute of limitations for suing expires, they still usually get caught later.

We can see though the differences between the Kennedy Democrat and globalist Democrat, when the Oppressor consortium destroyed all the child care records.

Eric Fehrmann's avatar

How about “go walk tell” for we older folks?

ANDREA L HANA's avatar

Nice article, Jeff! Very thorough.

No One Important's avatar

Excellent info, Jeff! Thanks.

The Commissioners do this because there are no consequences for hiding information, lying to the people, unfairly favoring certain groups, negligence in their duties, etc. What ARE they held accountable for? What have the consequences been? Are those crickets that I hear? Without accountability and consequences, the laws and we, the people, are just nuisances, thorns in their sides, and the laws mere guidelines to avoid as they please.

sue coffman's avatar

Intriguing and interesting info, as always! Thank you for informing us and reminding us to be diligent in our pursuit of The Truth in all government dealings.

Diana Henderson's avatar

CLALLAM COUNTY WASHINGTON https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/

CLALLAM COUNTY AGENDA PORTAL https://clallamcowa.portal.civicclerk.com/

Board of Clallam County Commissioners (BOCC) WORK Session

Monday, Feb. 2nd at 9am

https://clallamcowa.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3315/files

Comments to Clerk of the Board loni.gores@clallamcountywa.gov

Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83692664344

Meeting ID: 836 9266 4344 passcode: 12345

**

Board of Clallam County Commissioners (BOCC) REGULAR Meeting

Tuesday, Feb. 3rd at 10am

https://clallamcowa.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3205/files

Comments to Clerk of the Board loni.gores@clallamcountywa.gov

Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83692664344

Meeting ID: 836 9266 4344 passcode: 12345

**

VIDEO REPLAY: Commissioner's Work Session- Jan. 26th

https://clallamcowa.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3314/media

**

VIDEO REPLAY: Commissioner's Board Meeting - Jan. 27th

https://clallamcowa.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3204/media

Robert's avatar

"Never appeal to a man's 'better nature.' He may not have one." -- Robert A. Heinlein, 1987, “Time Enough for Love.” A simple way to describe why one must always keep their eye on the government, which is made up of flawed humans, who sometimes allow their own personal prejudices and feelings dictate their actions. Because, doncha know, they simple know better.

Robert James's avatar

Nice! Thanks for all of it!🤓

4 reasonable development's avatar

Requesting and going through all the emails is how we found out about all the underhanded lying that had been done by the Sequim City Manager prior to the public knowing about the MAT clinic and other stuff. The city manager was forced to leave by the council or otherwise face termination (Mayor Armacost is to thank) the City Manager decided to resign to keep his benefits. Yeah it does happen, public record requests are excellent tools because facts are facts and there lies the truth. This is why it is important to know and elect City Council members who are going to protect the people.

Unless you are involved most people don’t realize unless someone like Jeff has the conduit to deliver the factual information, so thank you.

JJW's avatar

When there are grounds for termination so serious that an individual decides to retire to keep their retirement benefits why in the hell are they not terminated to save the taxpayers some money. There has to be a lot I do not understand about these situations. Possibly a few severe actions would be a deterrent to some others.At least for a month or two.

4 reasonable development's avatar

Terminations can result in court cases & those are sometimes very expensive….they must have had the goods on the City Manager. When you terminate a person their ability for other employment is difficult, no benefits, makes it hard to survive until a court case is settled with no income or less income. Trying to retain an attorney on top of that to file for wrongful termination is costly, been through this a lot with other people who have been disciplined pending termination…..better to retire if eligible or resign & get on with your life.

JJW's avatar

I understand what you are saying.I also realize there are gray areas for which we have arbitrators and courts.However, these are consequences that should be taken into consideration prior to taking action which most know are over the line. It seems that in many cases the cost filters back to the taxpayer. Time taken to deal with these situations is time lost on both sides from doing your job. On the private side First Fed., public side Shore pool. Not to mention all the situations that have been written about on this site.