County’s resistance to audit is regretful

Remember last fall when Thurston County Commissioner Diane Oberquell raised a stink over a government performance audit? State auditors asked for a series of public records to test how local government officials would respond to the general public making similar requests for public records. It was, as Auditor Brian Sonntag said, a test of government transparency and accountability to citizens.

Oberquell went ballistic, calling the audit a money-wasting "sting." She said requests for a job description of the information technology staff member, travel records from the sheriff's office and the phone records of chief administrative officer Don Krupp were a waste of money.

Oberquell was wrong. It was a legitimate request for public records and a legitimate test of government transparency at Thurston County.

And it turns out Oberquell had little reason to worry. Sonntag has released an initial draft of the statewide audit of state, city and county governments and it shows most agencies of government are doing a respectable job when it comes to releasing records. Thurston County fell into the middle of the pack.

But, regrettably, Thurston County continues its obstructionist ways with regard to the audit. County officials refused to let public-records officer Robin Courts be interviewed one-on-one — instead insisting upon having Oberquell, a deputy administrator or a county deputy prosecutor be present.

Oberquell's overreaction and continued stubbornness reflects poorly on Thurston County.