Deputy Thurston County Auditor
&
Yelm Mayor Ron Harding

I submitted this Letter to the Editor to The Olympian in response to their editorial:

Dear Editor:

Thurston County Auditor Gary Alexander may have more baggage in running for Auditor than stating his intentions whether he will resign or not seek re-election to his legislative seat if he wins the auditors job.

Last January, the day before Thurston County Commissioners were to chose a replacement for Kim Wyman after her election as secretary of state, Yelm Mayor Ron Harding dropped out of consideration for Auditor, the next day Gary Alexander was chosen, then Alexander chose Harding as Deputy Auditor.
[Harding said, “leaving my responsibilities as mayor at such a critical time would not be honorable.” ]
That raised many questions.

Two-term Mayor Ron Harding, who filed for a 3rd term and is considered elected in running unopposed, earns a $30,000 a year part-time salary, added to his current full-time Thurston County Deputy Auditor day job, a $70.000 a year position plus benefits.

With a combined salary and benefits package, Harding’s annual take at the public trough is valued at approx. $125,000+.

Harding holding onto these two posts may be more problematic for Rep. Alexander in his election bid than his own two public jobs.

As a caution to the City of Yelm voters:
“One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.”
– Plato