Letters to the Editor
ELECTION: Conflict of interest in Fire Protection District 21 race?
From 1996 until 2013, I was a commissioner at Graham Fire and Rescue. During that period, we built one of the most respected fire districts in the state of Washington. Two years ago, the union spent between $10,000 and $12,000 to elect a captain in the Yelm Fire department in my place. Now, the union is preparing to do the same thing to Robert Skaggs. Adam Rosenlund is in the same bargaining unit as Graham firefighters. A firefighter in the same bargaining unit cannot be objective. The same is true for discipline - how can he vote against a fellow bargaining unit employee? How can he possibly vote against a grievance brought by his own? How can he be effective in any vote where the department and district interests differ from the bargaining unit interests?
Rosenlund said at a business leaders’ meeting in September that one of the reasons he ran is to merge Graham into Central Pierce. If this happens, then Rosenlund would be an employee of the district in which he is a commissioner, which is prohibited by RCW.
Is there a conflict of interest? The voters must decide.
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