Demonstrators call for Commissioner Clouse’s reinstatement during brief gathering Wednesday
Supporters of Thurston County Commissioner Emily Clouse gathered for a brief demonstration Wednesday to demand her reinstatement.
The small group chanted in the rain in front of The Atrium, the county’s administrative headquarters in Olympia, about 15 minutes after the Board of County Commissioners wrapped up an executive session.
Dave Toler, an Olympia resident who organized the demonstration, said he feels the board’s actions appear like an unjust political punishment.
“I think a lot of us feel like we voted for (Clouse) to represent us,” Toler said. “It is not the place of the majority of the county commission to take our votes away for something that was alleged and has been proven to not be true.”
Commissioners Wayne Fournier, Carolina Mejia and Gary Edwards voted to suspend Clouse from her appointed boards and commissions on Aug. 13. The decision occurred amid an investigation into a workplace dating relationship between Clouse and a county employee.
Since then, Clouse has continued to participate on the County Board but has been unable to vote on behalf of the county in her external appointments.
In a statement last week, the board said it heard a preliminary report about the investigation during a close-door meeting on Aug. 29.
That report “ruled out some aspects” of the accusations against Clouse but the board said it still had questions about Clouse’s “judgment and conduct.”
All four of Clouse’s seatmates signed on to that statement, including Commissioner Tye Menser who has repeatedly broken with the board on how handle the situation.
On Sept. 3, Menser said the “inflammatory” allegations against Clouse were “unsubstantiated.” However, the rest of the board declined to entertain a motion to reinstate Clouse.
Toler said Clouse’s relationship with a staff person “probably was not appropriate.” However, he said he feels the board was wrong to suspend her before the investigation was complete.
Jeff Sowers, a Thurston County resident who previously worked on Clouse’s campaign, said the demonstrators were showing up to support democracy.
“I have this to say to the other county commissioners, Thurston County is not your banana republic,” Sowers said. “You need to respect the voters of Thurston County. Respect our democracy and you need to restore Emily now.”
April Miller attended the gathering on behalf of the Olympia Democratic Socialists of America. Miller called the commissioners’ actions an “egregious violation of democratic norms” and an example of political retaliation for Clouse’s “sympathy to socialist and progressive movements.”
“If this purge is successful, it will set a dangerous precedent that any elected official in Thurston County with connections to the organized left is liable to face a campaign of smears, undemocratic maneuvers and even suspension from office,” Miller said. “An injury to one is an injury to all.”
Clouse did not attend the demonstration. Maia Robbins, Clouse’s attorney, said Clouse did not organize or approve of the event, but she “appreciates the support.”
“She respects the community’s right to gather and express their views, and she trusts they will do so peacefully,” Robbins said.
Robbins previously said Clouse may pursue legal action against her seatmates if they continue to prevent her from doing her full job.
“While this is not a step Commissioner Clouse would take lightly, she will not be unjustly sidelined from her duties by less progressive voices on the Commission,” Robbins said.
In their statement last week, the board said it will publicly release the investigation’s final written report along with a written statement when they are ready.
“The board appreciates the patience of the public and staff as it works through what has become a very distracting situation,” the board said.
Meanwhile, The Chronicle in Centralia reported that Lewis County District Court issued a $5,000 arrest warrant for Clouse on Aug. 12 after she failed to appear at an Aug. 9 court hearing about a traffic infraction. The court reportedly canceled the warrant the next day.
“There was a miscommunication, and she cleared it up with the court,” Robbins told The Chronicle.
The hearing stemmed from a July 29 traffic stop. A trooper reportedly pulled over Clouse on Interstate 5 in Centralia for speeding and cited her for driving with a suspended license.
Robbins said Clouse’s license was suspended because Clouse did not pay a late fee for a parking ticket she received in South Bend earlier this year.
This story was originally published September 12, 2024 at 1:28 PM.
