Commissioners won’t reappoint deposed Conservation District supervisor to ag committee
Eric Johnson, who was removed from office at the Thurston Conservation District earlier this year, will no longer serve on a committee that advises the county on agricultural issues.
The Thurston County Commissioners voted 2-1 last week against reappointing Johnson.
The Thurston County Agriculture Committee is made up of four non-farmers, seven farmers, and two ex-officio members, according to county documentation.
Johnson wrote in his application for reappointment to the committee that he’s farmed in Thurston County for most of his life. He served on the Thurston Conservation District’s board of supervisors until the Washington State Conservation Commission removed both Johnson and Richard Mankamyer from the board in February for malfeasance and neglect of duty.
That decision followed an investigation that — among other findings — found Johnson and Mankamyer failed to regularly review, finalize, and sign board meeting minutes; failed to sign checks and approve time sheets in a timely manner, incurring late fees on overdue bills; and failed to maintain a “workplace free from perceived harassment.”
Mankamyer and Johnson are fighting the state commission’s decision in court.
Both Johnson and Mankamyer continued serving on the agriculture committee after they were removed from the TCD board. And in May, Thurston County commissioners voted 2-1 to reappoint Mankamyer to the committee for another two-year term, with Commissioner Tye Menser casting the only “no” vote.
Last week, commission chair John Hutchings joined Menser in voting “no” on Johnson’s reappointment.
In discussions before the vote, Menser cited behaviors he thought would discourage others from serving on the board. Menser said members of the agriculture committee have quit because of disruption Johnson caused similar to what was happening at the conservation district.
Documents from last week’s work session, where commissioners made the decision, included four emails sent by citizens who asked the board not to reappoint Johnson. Three of the writers pointed to his tumultuous tenure at the conservation district.
“Thurston County has many people who care about agriculture and are knowledgeable — and who have the person-to-person skills to work cooperatively instead of venting hostility,” one email reads.
Chair Hutchings said he wasn’t in favor of reappointing Johnson as long as there’s controversy surrounding him. If the dust settles and Johnson reapplies, Hutchings said, he could be open to reappointing him. When asked to explain why he voted to reinstate Mankamyer but not Johnson, Hutchings said he hasn’t heard “anything negative” about Mankamyer in his position as chair of the committee.
“Just for the sake of continuity, consistency with the agriculture board, I didn’t see the need to remove the head of that committee,” Hutchings said.
Commissioner Gary Edwards was the one commissioner who voted to reinstate Johnson. He said he knows there were some issues with the Conservation District’s board, but that he doesn’t think “that’s been settled yet.”
Mankamyer hadn’t heard the news Johnson wouldn’t be reappointed when The Olympian called him this week. He did not comment on the decision. According to county officials, a letter to Johnson hadn’t been sent at the time The Olympian called.
The Olympian was not successful in its attempts to get comment from Johnson via phone.
Johnson’s term ended Sept. 1, according to county officials. Along with the vacancy left by Johnson, there are currently two non-farmer vacancies on the agriculture committee.
.jpg)