Trump Thurston County style

Former Commissioner Kevin O’Sullivan (see letter of Oct. 11) has become very vocal in supporting Messrs. Edwards and Hutchings for county commissioner — lending credence to the widely circulating rumor that he’ll be tapped for county manager should either of these gentlemen win election.

This would be unfortunate indeed. His tenure on the County Commission (1999 -2002) featured frequent photo ops tours at taxpayer expense and very little attention to the business of governance; his attendance at intergovernmental meetings — mandatory for his office — was abysmal. He showed favoritism to friends and mocked those with whom he disagreed.

After his term in office, on at least one occasion he suggested to rural residents that armed resistance might be in order against a resource protection ordinance he opposed. Last month, an area weekly published an offensive and barely coherent letter he signed, maliciously defaming a highly respected commissioner.

O’Sullivan, many will recall, lost his reelection bid in 2002, then reinvented himself as a Republican in 2006 — before the “Independent” tag became fashionable in this predominantly Democratic county — and unsuccessfully attempted a return to the Commission.

The two “Independent” candidates he now so fervently promotes should assure the public they do not share O’Sullivan’s disregard for the law and the truth, and should promise they will not invite him back into county government.

Meanwhile, I implore voters to choose Kelsey Hulse and Jim Cooper — two fair-minded, energetic and intelligent leaders (and proud Democrats) that we can trust.

This story was originally published November 5, 2016 at 7:25 AM with the headline "Trump Thurston County style."