Politicians don’t just withdraw the day before an appointment is to be decided, with so much fanfare for public office, without a reason!
On Monday, January 28. Mayor Ron Harding sent a letter to the Thurston County Commissioners requesting his name be withdrawn for County Auditor, this after two weeks of high-profile, front-page stories headlining his eagerness for the position in the Nisqually Valley News (NVN), articles in The Olympian, plus taking the commissioners’ valuable time for his interview.
Why DID Mayor Harding withdraw the day before the commissioners were to decide?
If the mayor truly had a “passion for doing the right thing for our residents as he said,
he would have recused himself for the stated reasons when the Republicans first asked to submit his name.
What is the real reason behind Harding’s withdrawal so late in the process?
Isn’t there a question that should be asked?
Harding was featured for the third-week-in-a-row in a front-page NVN report last Friday and said his resignation was tendered because:
“‘The City of Yelm has several high impact issues still unresolved,’ Harding wrote to the commissioners. ‘Some of these include our 510 loop project, connected road corridors within the city, finalizing our future water rights, and setting up the distribution system to deliver that water, and of course we are currently in the middle of redesigning a new park master plan with a much needed community center to better serve area residents.’
‘I feel a pressing responsibility to see these issues to completion.’
‘The commissioners and I have enough history that each of you knows my passion for doing the right thing for our residents,’ he said.
‘I feel that even though becoming the next auditor would be a great honor, leaving my responsibilities as mayor at such a critical time would not be honorable.’
‘I want only the best for Thurston County residents because our residents deserve the best.'”
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Ed. Note:
Harding knew of Yelm’s projects when he allowed his name to be presented for County Auditor.
Candidates don’t resign the day before the decision after being on the docket for weeks unless something untoward arises, personal or political.
Why can’t Harding just tell the truth to his constituents?
On November 25, 2005, just after Harding was elected Mayor of Yelm for the first time, Keven R. Graves, then Editor and General Manager of the Nisqually Valley News penned this in his Op-Ed,
“I believe Harding is sincere when he says he wants to represent all of the residents of Yelm, whether they voted for him or not. I believe him when he tells me that he wants to make Yelm City Hall more accessible to the newspaper and general public.
We agree that a transparent government is a better government.
The people of Yelm – and this newspaper- have responsibilities to their community as well.”
Bottom line:
Many in the community may think this writer is a pain in the can, however quoting Mr. Graves:
“The people of Yelm – and this newspaper – have responsibilities to their community as well.”
Yes, that IS true.
Therefore, saying nothing is not responsible.
IF Mayor Harding and the NVN Editor agree transparent government is better government, then where is the beef?
One can only hope that Mr. Graves’ last NVN printing under his tutelage this week will ask this question of Mr. Harding,
“After two front-page NVN stories heralding Mr. Harding’s candidacy for County Auditor and taking County Commissioners’ time to interview him for the position, what is the real reason Harding withdrew the day before a decision was to be made?”
– Introducing:
“Washington State Liberty Movement is excited to announce our new project, Washington Accountable Government, or simply “WAG”. WAG’s mission is to promote Liberty and expose corruption to ensure accountable government in Washington State.”
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