8-16-11 Ballot Returns, Shelton Gently Weeps

Shelton residents are on the verge of losing all they gained in recently defeating Adage & biomassacre proponents. By failing to pay sufficient attention to local political machinations, and now by casting incredibly few ballots in the primary, candidates who stonewall voters (or side with corporate special interests outright) when asked their position on environmental protection as well as community health and quality of life are poised to assume office as Mayor of Shelton (Dawn Pannell) and Port of Shelton Commissioner (Dick Taylor).

Voters sit on hands, return few primary ballots 1/3

Voters sit on hands, return few primary ballots 2/3

Voters sit on hands, return few primary ballots 3/3

This voter ennui and lack of perspicacity will cost residents dearly in terms of increased pollution in our streams, bays, and estuaries as well as our air quality. Residents have not a single friend with respect to these issues sitting as a Mason County Commissioner NOW!

A peek at the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission’s online database (e.g. who contributed how much and to whom) tells the story. The same special interest groups that were heavily backing Adage and Tim Sheldon are now backing Dick Taylor and Dawn Pannell. Most recently the usual 2 Pork Commissioners resolved during their last meeting to commend/encourage Simpson in its efforts to continue an out of compliance existing incinerator and add yet another one to downtown Shelton. They also voted to sign/partner onto a 2.25 million dollar debt to purchase the Washington State Port Association an office building in Olympia without much study of the cost/benefit ratio or anticipated expenses due to cost of operation, earthquake retrofitting, building obsolescence, assessment of systems such as the building’s air conditioning, electrical, plumbing, handicap access compliance, roof integrity, foundation, and bathrooms…all on the public’s dime, of course.

Now with the substantial prospect of yet another septuagenarian being elected to the Pork and Dawn Pannell’s intransigence in responding BEFORE an election as to her position on important matters of public policy [An attorney (City) who can’t distinguish between a candidate for judge from one for City Commissioner/Mayor needs to go back to law school. A candidate (Pannell) who accepts such bad legal advice as a cover to stonewall inquiring citizens demonstrates her incompetence to hold office!] like Simpson’s request for permitting yet another downtown incinerator, it looks like the lack of concern for social justice is going to bite residents on the backside. Poor residents worked very hard in tandem with their wealthier neighbors outside city limits to defeat the Adage project proposed for THEIR backyard. A similar reciprocal concerted effort on behalf of Shelton residents is notably lacking.  Worse yet, the ONE local elected official (Jack Miles) who resolutely stood shoulder to shoulder with area residents when every other local official was turning a deaf ear to their pleas received only 25% of the relative handful of votes cast while his opponent, Dick Taylor, received 52% despite Mr. Taylor being a virtual clone for Commissioners Jay Hupp and Tom Walitner, who have contributed heavily to Mr. Taylor’s campaign.

Sometimes people get the government they deserve. The money spent on lawyers, recall petitions, lawsuits against the Pork and Adage, and all the countless hours of hard work look to be sliding down into the abyss. If voter ennui allows Dawn Pannell and Dick Taylor into office, all the hand wringing and coughing through smoggy tears by residents won’t get them a cup of coffee. In politics, timing is everything. Too many voters remain asleep at the wheel. Special business interests are poised to take advantage of the opportunity to continue the graft, corruption, favoritism, and cronyism that has long been rampant in Mason County/Shelton.

Dedrick studies election results