Thurston County Deputy Auditor, Yelm Mayor,
and Bachelor Business Degree (BBA) candidate Ron Harding

Mayor Harding was recently verbally instructed by the State Auditor’s office to avoid all appearances of a conflict-of-interest, telling him Mayor Pro-tem Isom should have handled all matters before the Yelm City Council involving the Yelm Chamber of Commerce when Harding was simultaneously on their Board of Directors.
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Therefore, Mayor Harding MUST recuse himself tomorrow night when the Yelm City Council discusses and votes on the Thurston County Interlocal Cooperative Agreement for Thurston Emergency Management Council to avoid an appearance of a conflict-of-interest, since he is the County’s Deputy Auditor and has as his job functions:
“Assures drafting and introduction of appropriate ordinances, resolutions and statutes to improve the operation of the office,” which can affect the County’s cities of Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and Yelm.

Mayor Pro-tem Bob Isom should conduct AND SIGN the Council’s discussion and vote to “Adopt and authorize Mayor Harding to sign the Interlocal Cooperative Agreement for Thurston Emergency Management Council.”

Mayor Harding should NOT be signing this document while in his full-time salaried role as Thurston County Deputy Auditor – to avoid any and all appearances of a conflict-of-interest!
Click here for Council Agenda tomorrow night.