The agency has had several resignations, including those of former Secretary Eldon Vail and two assistants, and another high-ranking official has been reassigned while the Executive Ethics Board investigates allegations she ran nonprofit groups on state time.
The letter went out from Senate Human Services and Corrections Committee chairman Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam, and Republican state Sen. Mike Carrell of Lakewood, who is on the committee.
Carrell said in a news release Tuesday that with turmoil at the top and apparent ethics violations, “it is clear that the agency is somewhat troubled.”
His idea is patterned after a solicitation from Republican Sen. Joseph Zarelli and Democratic Sen. Margarita Prentice that drew many budget-savings ideas from state workers in all agencies.
“Hopefully we’ll collect a whole bunch of information. I don’t expect to get any huge surprises,” Carrell said. “But it’ll give me an idea how widespread (any problem) is, how the rank and file is feeling and what isn’t working.’’
Corrections spokesman Chad Lewis said the agency was not concerned about Carrell’s and Hargrove’s effort to communicate with front-line workers. He said DOC already solicits ideas from staffers on ways to save money, and among the 2,000 ideas that became reality was purchasing shorter socks for inmates that cost less, Lewis said.
“If they find anything that might improve our operations we’ll be glad to study it,” Lewis said.
Brad Shannon: 360-753-1688
bshannon@theolympian.com
www.theolympian.com/politicsblog
