Everything Is About Race—Until It Isn't

Everything Is About Race—Until It Isn't

Race has become a recurring theme in local politics—from school board disputes and county appointments to public health resolutions and campaign rhetoric. But as accusations of racism multiply, many residents are beginning to ask whether everyone is being held to the same standard. Last week, the Port Angeles School Board voted to censure fellow board member Nancy Hamilton. Every board member except Hamilton voted in favor of the resolution, which accused her of making antagonistic and inaccurate statements about the superintendent and improperly disclosing information discussed in executive session. Hamilton viewed the situation differently. “As I am the only Native American on this Board,” she said, “it is hard to see this attack as anything other than an attempt to silence minority voices on the Board.” The issue quickly expanded beyond the specific allegations contained in the censure resolution. Supporters framed the action as part of a broader discussion about race and representation. Among them was Port Angeles Deputy Mayor Navarra Carr, who also serves as Mike French’s campaign manager. Carr circulated an email urging residents to oppose the censure and stating that it was difficult not to see “racist undertones” in the board’s actions. Whether one agrees with Hamilton or the rest of the board is almost beside the point. What matters is how quickly questions of race became central to the discussion. That has become a familiar pattern on the Olympic Peninsula. Racism as a Public Health Emergency The modern era of local government’s focus on race arguably began in 2020. That October, the Jefferson County Board of Health adopted Resolution 65-20 [https://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/DocumentCenter/View/10539/Racism-Resolution-40-as-presented-at-091720-Bd-of-Health-Mtg?utm_source=chatgpt.com] declaring racism a public health crisis. The resolution described racism as both an acute and chronic threat to public health and committed the county to examining policies through a racial equity lens. The resolution stated that racism contributes to inequities in housing, education, employment, criminal justice, and health outcomes. It further pledged support for efforts aimed at identifying and eliminating systemic barriers faced by racial minorities. At the time, supporters argued that the declaration was a necessary acknowledgment of historical and contemporary disparities. Critics questioned whether broad social and political issues were being transformed into public health matters. Regardless of where one stood on the resolution, it signaled a significant shift. Race was no longer simply one issue among many. It was becoming a framework through which local government would increasingly evaluate public policy. Calling Out Racism The Jefferson County Board of Health was not alone in making race a central public issue in 2020. Many local elected officials were speaking openly about racism, institutional bias, and the need to confront prejudice wherever it appeared. Clallam County Commissioner Mark Ozias wrote that following a George Floyd vigil, he wanted to engage fellow elected officials and community members in a dialogue about institutional racism in Clallam County. He acknowledged that he did not see overt racism in county government but argued that institutional problems can be difficult for those inside the system to recognize. Commissioner Mike French was equally outspoken. In one June 2020 post, French condemned what he described as racial profiling and harassment, writing that community leaders should have the courage to denounce such behavior. In another, he criticized those who downplayed racism, saying that people who insisted Americans should simply “get over it” were missing the point. Days later, he warned against those spreading what he viewed as racist rhetoric and conspiracy theories. Whether one agrees with those statements is not particularly important. What is important is that both officials established a clear principle: racism should be confronted, called out, and challenged. Silence was not an acceptable response. That principle seems reasonable enough. The question is whether it has been applied consistently. The Rise of Identity Politics That same year, Port Angeles became the site of another debate centered on race and representation. In September 2020, the Port Angeles City Council voted [https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/2020/09/17/port-angeles-city-council-to-diversify-board/] to restructure the Public Safety Advisory Board. The discussion was driven largely by concerns that the board was entirely white. The adopted ordinance added seats for tribal representatives and individuals with experience related to homelessness or substance use disorders. Councilmembers Mike French, Navarra Carr, LaTrisha Suggs, and Kate Dexter supported the measure. The debate was notable because it focused less on expertise and more on identity. Supporters argued that a board’s effectiveness depended in part on who was represented around the table. The argument reflected a broader trend in American politics. Increasingly, public institutions were being encouraged to view people not primarily as individuals but as members of demographic groups whose perspectives were presumed to flow from their ancestry, ethnicity, or lived experience. That philosophy continues to shape public discussions today. The Rawls Question At last week’s commissioner debate, incumbent Commissioner Mike French referenced political philosopher John Rawls while discussing fairness and privilege. “This is, I think, very classic John Rawls philosophy,” French said. “If you were to be reborn and had to reroll the dice, would you do it? I’m a white man in modern America that has had a very blessed life.” French was referring to Rawls’ famous “veil of ignorance” thought experiment. Rawls argued that a just society would be designed by people who did not know what position they themselves would occupy within it. The idea was intended to encourage fairness and empathy. It is a thoughtful exercise. Most people would agree that society should seek to reduce unnecessary barriers and create opportunities for success. The challenge comes when discussions about fairness become inseparable from discussions about race. Life does not divide neatly along racial lines. There are wealthy people and poor people in every racial group. There are people born into privilege who squander opportunities and people born into difficult circumstances who overcome extraordinary obstacles. Some of the most successful people in Clallam County are tribal citizens. Some non-tribal families struggle every day to make ends meet. Human experience is more complicated than demographic categories. Reducing individuals to racial identities may simplify political conversations, but it rarely reflects reality. The Double Standard Problem If racism is truly a problem that must be confronted wherever it appears, then the standard should apply consistently. Yet many residents have noticed that consistency often disappears when the target changes. Where, for example, were the public condemnations when Paula Allen wrote on social media [https://www.ccwatchdog.com/p/paula-allen-white-people-are-a-problem?utm_source=publication-search] that white people were a problem and that she was embarrassed to live among them? Where were the statements from elected officials denouncing those comments? Where were the calls for accountability? Similarly, county commissioners were made aware of comments attributed to Rae Hesselbach stating that “the wealthiest white men are a greater threat to safety than the unhoused.” Despite the controversy, commissioners unanimously appointed her to the Developmental Disabilities Advisory Board. No public statements followed. No emergency discussions were held. No resolutions were drafted. Many residents cannot help but notice the contrast. Had similar remarks been directed toward Native Americans, Black residents, or any other minority group, there is little doubt that local officials would have responded swiftly and publicly. That discrepancy undermines confidence in the principle itself. When standards are applied selectively, people begin to suspect that the issue is not racism but politics. Beyond Race None of this is an argument that racism does not exist. It does. But the constant emphasis on race as the primary lens through which society should view itself has produced diminishing returns. Instead of bringing people together, it often encourages them to view one another as competing groups with competing grievances. That is a troubling direction for a country founded on the idea that individuals possess equal rights regardless of ancestry. Two hundred and fifty years into the American experiment, Americans should be moving toward a society that judges people based on character, conduct, and contribution rather than racial categories. Public officials should be encouraging that vision, not reinforcing divisions that many citizens are trying to move beyond. The United States remains exactly that: United States. At least it should be. Too often, modern politics seems determined to remind us of what separates us while overlooking everything we still share. "Racism is not dead, but it is on life support—kept alive by politicians, race hustlers, and people who get a sense of superiority by denouncing others as racists." — Thomas Sowell Today’s Tidbit: Broadband Funding for Some, Taxes From All The Washington State Department of Commerce is promoting nearly $790 million in new federal broadband funding opportunities available exclusively to tribal and Native entities. The grants, administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), are intended to expand broadband access, infrastructure, and digital connectivity on tribal lands. No one disputes the importance of broadband access. In today’s economy, reliable internet service is as essential as electricity and roads. What makes these programs noteworthy is who pays for them and who can receive them. The funding comes from federal tax dollars collected from all Americans. White taxpayers pay into the system. Black taxpayers pay into the system. Hispanic taxpayers pay into the system. Tribal citizens pay into the system. Yet eligibility for these particular grants is determined by ancestry and political status, not financial need. That raises an uncomfortable question. If a federally funded program were available only to white communities, would anyone hesitate to call it discriminatory? If not, why is it different when the beneficiaries are tribal governments? Supporters argue that tribes occupy a unique legal status recognized by treaties and federal law. Critics argue that taxpayer-funded programs should be available based on need, geography, or income rather than race or ancestry. Reasonable people can disagree on the answer. But they should at least be allowed to ask the question. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ccwatchdog.com [https://www.ccwatchdog.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

"Rock Solid" Science?

When Clallam County Health Officer Dr. Allison Berry declared the science behind harm reduction "rock solid," she left little room for debate. But from Oregon's failed Measure 110 experiment to concerns raised by recovery advocates, public records, and even local data discrepancies, the evidence tells a more complicated story. If the science is truly settled, why are questions increasingly treated as attacks? At last week’s Board of Health meeting, Clallam County Health Officer Dr. Allison Berry offered an unequivocal defense of the county’s harm reduction programs. “The evidence on its efficacy is rock solid all across the country in urban areas and rural areas,” Berry told the Board. “It’s not new, it’s not strange. What we’re doing here is not atypical. It’s standard harm reduction practices.” She went even further. “Well, the data is very, very clear that it is the other way around. Harm reduction reduces people’s use of drugs. It makes them use less. It makes them less likely to die, less likely to get infectious diseases, and it makes them more likely to enter treatment.” Those are strong statements. They leave little room for the possibility that the evidence is mixed, incomplete, or still being debated. The problem is that the broader debate surrounding harm reduction is anything but settled. What Does Harm Reduction Mean? Harm reduction encompasses a wide range of programs intended to reduce the negative consequences of substance abuse. Supporters argue these programs keep people alive long enough to enter recovery and reduce the spread of infectious diseases. Critics argue some programs have drifted beyond reducing harm and instead normalize or prolong active addiction. The disagreement is not whether addiction is harmful. The disagreement is over which policies are most effective in helping people escape it. The Debate Berry Says Doesn’t Exist Berry’s comments suggest the evidence overwhelmingly supports current harm reduction practices. Yet significant questions continue to be raised by researchers, recovery advocates, elected officials, and communities across North America. Oregon’s Measure 110 experiment was promoted as a groundbreaking public health approach to addiction. Instead, overdose deaths continued to rise, and public dissatisfaction became so widespread that lawmakers ultimately reversed major portions of the policy. San Francisco has spent years investing heavily in harm reduction programs while simultaneously struggling with public drug use, overdoses, and growing concerns from residents and business owners. Even Vancouver, often held up as the model for harm reduction, faces criticism from recovery advocates who argue that treatment and recovery have become secondary to maintenance strategies. The point is not that harm reduction never works. The point is that serious debate exists. A policy surrounded by ongoing debate is difficult to describe as “rock solid.” Questions From Recovery Advocates During recent Board of Health meetings, long-term recovery advocate David Rogers has repeatedly challenged county officials [https://www.ccwatchdog.com/p/dr-berrys-response-challenges-recovery?utm_source=publication-search] to place greater emphasis on treatment, accountability, and pathways out of addiction. Rogers is hardly alone. Many families affected by addiction support treatment-first approaches and question whether the county’s current balance between harm reduction and recovery is producing the best outcomes. Reasonable people can disagree on those questions. What is more difficult to understand is why those questions are so often characterized as attacks. When Public Officials Get It Wrong One of the recurring themes in recent Board of Health discussions has been misinformation. Berry has frequently warned the public about misinformation regarding public health issues. Yet critics argue public officials themselves have made claims that deserve scrutiny. Jake Seegers highlighted several examples during public comment. In 2021, local COVID restrictions were justified in part by claims that vaccination significantly prevented transmission. At the same time, national public health agencies were acknowledging that vaccinated individuals could still contract and spread the virus. “High viral loads suggest an increased risk of transmission and raised concern that, unlike with other variants, vaccinated people infected with Delta can transmit the virus.” — Statement from the CDC [https://archive.cdc.gov/www_cdc_gov/media/releases/2021/s0730-mmwr-covid-19.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com], July 2021 From 2 Deaths to 10 In January 2019, the Peninsula Daily News reported that overdose deaths in Clallam County had fallen dramatically—from 10 deaths in 2017 to just 2 in 2018. Health Officer Allison Berry cited the figures as evidence that expanded access to naloxone was working, pointing to an Opioid Surveillance Dashboard maintained by public health officials. The numbers appeared to tell a compelling story. If accurate, they suggested overdose deaths had declined by 80 percent in a single year. However, only three months later, the same dashboard was updated. Instead of 2 overdose deaths in 2018, the revised total was 10—the same number reported for 2017. What had been presented as a dramatic decline disappeared entirely. The numbers may have changed because the original data was preliminary. But the larger issue remains. The public heard about the dramatic drop from 10 deaths to 2. Few people heard that the number was later revised back to 10. As Berry once again points to overdose statistics as evidence that harm reduction is working, some residents are asking a simple question: how much confidence should the public place in numbers that have changed so significantly before? The Importance of Verification Questions have been raised about county syringe accounting methods, including how distributed syringes are counted compared to collected syringes. Dr. Berry has stated that an empty Gatorade bottle can hold 40 collected syringes. Jake Seegers decided to test that claim for himself. It raises questions about the claim that the County is collecting more needles than it distributes. Most recently, questions have emerged regarding differences between overdose statistics presented in county reports and figures reported by the Coroner’s Office. Whether these criticisms are ultimately correct is less important than the broader principle: scientific claims should remain open to examination. Ignoring Warnings Critics also point to examples where warnings were raised to the County but dismissed. Dr. Berry’s proposed drug-checking program [https://www.ccwatchdog.com/p/how-close-clallam-county-came-to?utm_source=publication-search] was halted after concerns were raised by risk managers and the county’s insurance pool. Public records later revealed the extent of those concerns. Credit for uncovering those records belongs largely to Jake Seegers. Similarly, officials have frequently stated there were no significant issues associated with public pool shower vouchers, despite police reports documenting [https://www.ccwatchdog.com/p/pool-board-says-there-were-no-incidents?utm_source=publication-search] numerous incidents at the facility over the years. Again, the issue is not whether every criticism is correct. The issue is whether questions are being taken seriously. Questions Are Not Attacks Recently, the Clallam County Democrats circulated a newsletter containing the following statement: “Tozzer and Seegers are personally intimidating and threatening and harassing her regularly, along with their little brigade. Evidence is available on recordings of BOH and Commissioner meetings.” No examples were provided. That accusation gets to the heart of the issue. If the science is truly as “rock solid” as Berry claims, then it should withstand scrutiny. Questions about overdose trends, treatment outcomes, syringe counts, public safety incidents, and competing evidence should not be viewed as personal attacks. Science advances through challenge, debate, testing, and verification. The issue isn’t whether harm reduction works at all. The issue is whether public officials who claim certainty are willing to engage with evidence that suggests the story may be more complicated than they admit. "Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts." — Richard Feynman Today’s Tidbit: Another Trust Land Application Filed The Jamestown Corporation has submitted another application to place property into federal trust status, according to a notice received by the Clallam County Commissioners on June 9. The application, filed with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, seeks to transfer approximately 8.63 acres into trust for use as residential sites. If approved, the property would be removed from the local tax rolls and transferred into federal trust ownership. The BIA’s notice specifically requests information from local governments regarding the amount of property taxes currently collected on the parcel, any special assessments, governmental services provided to the property, and whether the proposed use is consistent with local zoning. The application is part of a continuing series of trust land acquisitions by the Tribe. County officials have 30 days from receipt of the notice to provide comments to the Bureau of Indian Affairs regarding the potential impacts of removing the property from the local tax rolls. Why it matters: Every individual trust land application may appear small on its own, but each approved transfer permanently removes property from local taxation while local governments continue to provide many regional services funded by remaining taxpayers. If you would like Clallam County to respond to the federal government's request for comment, let your county commissioners know. All three commissioners can be reached by emailing the Clerk of the Board at loni.gores@clallamcountywa.gov. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ccwatchdog.com [https://www.ccwatchdog.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Building a Better Safety Net—or a Better Magnet?

Commissioner Mike French says homelessness services aren’t attracting people to Clallam County. But when a convicted sex offender with arrests in Illinois and Bremerton ends up living steps away from a Port Angeles shelter and receiving services funded by local taxpayers, residents are asking a simple question: if people aren’t coming here because of the services, why do so many seem to arrive where the services are? As the debate over shower vouchers at the William Shore Pool intensifies, Jake Seegers is emerging as the candidate offering what many voters see as a common-sense alternative. French Says Services Aren’t Drawing People Here At April’s Commissioner Forum [https://www.ccwatchdog.com/p/from-hoboken-to-clallam-how-did-we?utm_source=chatgpt.com], Commissioner Mike French was asked directly whether Clallam County’s extensive homelessness and harm-reduction services might be attracting people from outside the area. His answer was essentially, “no.” French acknowledged he doesn’t have definitive data but suggested that Clallam County’s remoteness may play a role. “Generally no,” French replied. He went on to speculate that people with warrants elsewhere may be drawn to remote communities because they are less connected to the places they are trying to leave behind. French also warned against what he sees as an effort to blame outsiders for local problems. “The focus right now is on finger-pointing,” he said. Yet there remains an unanswered question. If remoteness is the primary factor, why are so many individuals concentrated in the exact locations where the county’s services are concentrated? A Different View from Commissioner Johnson Commissioner Randy Johnson has previously pointed to a visit he made to Serenity House, where he said only four of roughly 114 residents [https://www.ccwatchdog.com/p/from-hoboken-to-clallam-how-did-we?utm_source=chatgpt.com] were from outside the area. But Johnson recently shared another story that complicates the picture. During last week’s Public Safety Town Hall hosted by the Calico Cat Social Club, Johnson described a conversation with a resident of Oxford House, a recovery-based housing program that requires accountability and adherence to rules. The man told Johnson: “I was in jail in Seattle. Then I came here, and I was in jail again.” Johnson used the story to illustrate the success of Oxford House in helping people rebuild their lives. But it also served as a reminder that at least some individuals are arriving in Clallam County from elsewhere. Meet Robert Jason Gould Last week, 52-year-old Robert Jason Gould was booked into the Clallam County Jail on a warrant-related matter. Public records show Gould is classified as a Level 2 sex offender following a 1998 conviction for attempted rape. In Washington, a Level 2 designation generally means law enforcement believes the individual presents a moderate risk of reoffending and community notification is authorized. His registered address is in the 2200 block of West 16th Street in Port Angeles, just a short distance from Serenity House. Records also show Gould was arrested earlier this month in Bremerton on allegations involving unlawful possession of a controlled substance and failure to appear. Prior records indicate arrests in Macon County, Illinois, including a federal hold and a criminal contempt matter. Whether Gould came to Clallam County because of available services, because of personal circumstances, or for some other reason isn’t known. But his case highlights the larger policy question facing local leaders: When people with extensive criminal histories arrive here from elsewhere, what obligations do taxpayers assume, and what policies may be encouraging that migration? The Shower Voucher Debate That question has become increasingly relevant as local officials debate the County’s shower voucher program. Under the program, vouchers distributed through the Harm Reduction Health Center can be redeemed for shower access at the William Shore Memorial Pool. Commissioner Randy Johnson defended the program at last week’s town hall, noting that it averages roughly one voucher per day. He argued the recipients are often vulnerable individuals, including women living in vehicles and families facing hardship. Commissioner Mike French also defended the program during last week’s debate against Jake Seegers. French argued that the pool is an existing public resource that can provide hygiene services at little additional cost and noted that the program operated for roughly 18 months without significant incident. But Seegers challenged that reasoning. Seegers argued that the absence of past incidents does not eliminate future risk. “Eighteen months of no incidents is not an argument to pursue something that is just an obvious common-sense public safety concern.” Seegers emphasized that individuals receiving vouchers where drug paraphernalia is distributed are often connected to addiction and argued that public swimming facilities serving children are not the appropriate venue for those programs. Unlike French, who framed the issue as a matter of service delivery, Seegers framed it as a matter of public safety and transparency. Watch the exchange here: The program operated for 18 months largely out of public view. Even Commissioner Mike French has said he was unaware of it until recently. That admission raised eyebrows because French sits on the William Shore Pool Board, where the vouchers are redeemed, while also serving as a county commissioner overseeing the department that distributes them. Despite those overlapping roles, he was unaware of the program. A Clear Contrast for Voters The debate over homelessness, harm reduction, public safety, and accountability is shaping up to be one of the defining issues in this year’s county commissioner race. Commissioner Mike French argues that services are a compassionate response to existing problems and rejects the idea that they are attracting people to Clallam County. Jake Seegers, on the other hand, argues that compassion without accountability can create new problems while failing to solve old ones. Cases like Robert Jason Gould’s sit squarely at the center of that debate. Here is a man whose record stretches from Illinois to Washington, who carries a Level 2 sex offender designation, and who has recent arrests involving controlled substances. Whatever brought Gould to Port Angeles, he now lives where many taxpayer-funded services are concentrated. If he is struggling with substance abuse, the Harm Reduction Health Center exists to provide supplies and services to encourage his addiction. It is also the same place where shower vouchers are distributed for use at a public pool frequented by local families and children. That is why this debate is about much more than a shower voucher. It is about the kind of system Clallam County is building and who ultimately benefits from it. Supporters see a network of services that offers dignity, compassion, and help to people in need. Critics see a growing system that too often manages dysfunction rather than demanding recovery, accountability, and change. As voters weigh those competing visions, the question may come down to something much simpler: Is Clallam County building systems that help people recover and become productive members of society, or systems that make it easier for people to remain dependent while attracting more of the same challenges from outside the community? “One of the great mistakes is to judge policies and programs by their intentions rather than their results.” — Milton Friedman What You Can Do The William Shore Memorial Pool Board will meet this Tuesday, June 23, at 3:00 p.m. to review the shower voucher policy. The pool board members are County Commissioners Mike French and Randy Johnson, Port Angeles City Council members Mark Hodgson and LaTrisha Suggs, and community representative Greg Shield. The public is welcome to attend and provide comment. For information about attending online or in-person, click here [https://www.sacpa.org/board-meetings]. Contact the Board: * Mike French — Mike.French@clallamcountywa.gov * Randy Johnson — Randy.Johnson@clallamcountywa.gov * Mark Hodgson — mhodgson@cityofpa.us * LaTrisha Suggs — losuggs@cityofpa.us * Greg Shield — gshield6@icloud.com Residents who support ending the voucher program may also sign the petition calling on the board to reject shower voucher and hygiene-center programs at the aquatic center. Today’s Tidbit: Town Hall Audio This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ccwatchdog.com [https://www.ccwatchdog.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Thrown Away, Found: Anniemarie Hogenboom's Journey from Trafficking to Hope

For this week’s Sundays with Seegers podcast, County Commissioner candidate Jake Seegers sits down with Sequim resident Anniemarie Hogenboom for one of the most powerful and personal conversations he has ever recorded. Anniemarie’s story begins in places most people can scarcely imagine. As a teenager, she was trafficked, became addicted to heroin, and found herself living on the streets of San Francisco. Looking back on that period of her life, she recalls, “I was trafficked at a time when it was definitely not something anybody talked about.” What follows is a remarkable story of survival, recovery, and redemption. Listeners will hear Anniemarie describe the moment she reached rock bottom, withdrawing from heroin alone in a doorway in San Francisco after deciding she no longer wanted to live the life addiction had trapped her in. “I ran out of drugs. I didn’t want to turn tricks. And so I went off of heroin cold turkey.” The conversation explores not only her recovery, but how a pair of compassionate mentors helped her rebuild her life through accountability, work, and expectations rather than enabling destructive behavior. “They saved me,” she says simply. From there, Anniemarie went on to build a successful career as a teacher and administrator, raise a family, and eventually become an advocate for women recovering from trafficking, abuse, addiction, and other forms of trauma. Today she leads the New Resiliency Group in Sequim, helping women navigate many of the same struggles she once faced herself. The discussion also tackles some of Clallam County’s most controversial issues, including homelessness, addiction, human trafficking, incarceration, recovery programs, and what genuine compassion looks like. Whether listeners agree with all of Anniemarie’s conclusions or not, her perspective comes from lived experience rather than theory. Perhaps the most moving part of the interview is her insistence that people struggling with addiction are not hopeless cases. Having once been written off herself, she sees value and potential where others see only problems. “Each human being who’s living on the street is a precious life,” she says. That belief is rooted in her own experience. As she reflects on the life she has today—a family, a home, and a purpose—she remembers where she came from: “I was absolutely thrown away.” This is more than a discussion about public policy. It’s a story about resilience, second chances, and the difference between helping people survive and helping them truly recover. If you’ve followed the community’s ongoing debates about homelessness, addiction, harm reduction, or recovery, this is an interview worth hearing in full. Listeners who are moved by Anniemarie's story can learn more in her memoir, Thrown Away Found, which tells the remarkable story of how a trafficked and addicted teenager became an educator, mother, advocate, and mentor to other women seeking recovery. The book expands on many of the experiences discussed in this interview and offers a powerful testament to resilience, redemption, and second chances. "I was grateful that I wasn't done the disservice of being allowed to stay high." — Anniemarie Looking for Support? New Resiliency Group Has Found a New Home During the interview, Anniemarie discusses the challenges her support group recently faced while meeting near Seal Street Park. Since recording the podcast, the group has secured a new location and continues its mission of helping women heal from life’s hardest challenges. The New Resiliency Group is a free, Christ-centered women’s support group focused on recovery, healing, accountability, and hope. The group welcomes women dealing with anxiety, grief, illness, depression, addiction, codependency, family dysfunction, abuse, abandonment, and other life struggles. Meetings are held every Saturday from 10:45 a.m. to noon at OBRIA, 660 N. 7th Avenue in Sequim. The program uses scripture-based recovery principles and emphasizes mutual support, personal growth, and practical healing. As Anniemarie explains in the interview, her goal is simple: to help women discover that their past does not have to define their future. For more information, visit www.newresiliency.com or call Annie at (707) 495-3698. Editor’s Note: CC Watchdog editor Jeff Tozzer also serves as campaign manager for Jake Seegers during his run for Clallam County Commissioner, District 3. Learn more at www.JakeSeegers.com [http://www.jakeseegers.com/]. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ccwatchdog.com [https://www.ccwatchdog.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Severing the Gordian Knot - Part III

In this guest column, Clallam County Auditor candidate Virginia Shogren recounts a legal battle stemming from allegations of noncitizen voter registrations and her subsequent disciplinary hearing. She argues that election integrity questions deserve greater scrutiny and outlines her vision for restoring public trust through voter ID, hand-counted ballots, and increased transparency. A Gordian knot is a metaphor for an extremely complicated problem that seems impossible to solve. The phrase comes from an ancient legend in which a king named Gordius tied an intricate knot that no one could untangle. A prophecy said whoever untied it would rule Asia. When Alexander the Great encountered the knot, he didn’t try to untie it—instead, he cut through it with his sword. As we approach the America 250 Celebration, you would think that we might know by now what a “free and equal” election is, as decreed by our state constitution. Yet in March of 2025, I had a front-row view of our government’s utter uncertainty as to what that phrase even means. The occasion was my disciplinary hearing before the Washington State Bar Association. In 2021, a Pierce County nonprofit filed a writ of mandamus seeking to compel the executive branch (including the Governor) to comply with the Constitution as it relates to qualified voters. The case exposed an alleged Department of Licensing pattern and practice to register noncitizens to vote, as publicly revealed by a retired DOL employee. Instead of examining the evidence and taking action to enforce the state constitution, our Supreme Court did the opposite: it pre-emptively dismissed the action and sanctioned both my client and me for bringing a so-called ‘frivolous’ action. The Attorney General’s office (led by then-Attorney General Bob Ferguson) took to the media to declare that I had attacked our democracy and had abused the legal system: Within days of the national media campaign, AG Ferguson’s office filed a grievance against me with the Washington State Bar Association in order to have me investigated and disciplined. At my hearing, I questioned Ferguson’s Deputy Solicitor General Karl Smith and the ‘grievant’, Solicitor General Noah Purcell, while under oath in a downtown Seattle courtroom. The Deputy Solicitor General testified that he was uncertain as to whether noncitizens should be allowed to vote in our elections. He could not say whether noncitizens are qualified voters. He punted, saying that the issue is “all academic right now in terms of how the constitution is interpreted.” The Solicitor General testified that the most important reason behind his grievance was the “subject matter” of my representation. He testified that exposure of the alleged noncitizen voter registrations meant that I had questioned the legitimacy of the 2020 General Election (and that, therefore, I should properly be disciplined). Our own government attorneys don’t seem to understand that the Constitution prohibits noncitizens from voting in our elections. Instead — along with our Supreme Court — they seem more intent on the intimidation of the legal profession in order to suppress election integrity matters. The good news is that the people do not need government attorneys to tell them what their own constitution says. The people hold the political power of this state. Based on potential federal legislation in the form of the SAVE Act or similar enactments (see [https://www.ccwatchdog.com/p/severing-the-gordian-knot] Part I of this series [https://www.ccwatchdog.com/p/severing-the-gordian-knot]), and state law (which in no way prohibits in-person voting), here is what a free and equal election in Clallam County could soon look like: * Multiple voting locations (polling places) across Clallam County will be announced, as shown in the voter’s pamphlet and online. * Each polling place will be manned with volunteers, 50/50 left-leaning/right-leaning. * Election Day will be a single day of in-person voting (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) with Voter ID. * Votes on cast ballots will be hand-counted at the polling places. * Absentee voting will be limited to the SAVE Act (Military, Illness, Disability, or Travel). The procedure for in-person voting could look like this: * Check in with a photo ID and sign the polling list. * Enter a defined voting area. * Pick any ballot from a stack available for your precinct. This provides for randomness and privacy, as each ballot will be assigned a unique number. * Go to a desk with a privacy shield and mark your votes and write-ins with a pen. * Remove the perforated tab from the top of the ballot (as is currently done). Keep the tab as it will contain your unique ballot number. Only you will know that number; you can check the records posted after the election to confirm that your ballot was tabulated. * Deposit the ballot in a clear plexiglass ballot box. * Exit the voting area. The County will maintain volunteers and a camera aimed only at the ballots and ballot box at all times, with the feed streamed live and recorded. At 8:00 p.m., polls close. The camera will be moved to tables where volunteers will remove the cast ballots from the clear box and place them into batches of 50 for counting. Tabulation will be done in teams of left/right readers, with vote tallies recorded on paper and all proceedings livestreamed and recorded. The general public will be invited to attend in person to listen and watch. The final results at each location will be phoned in to the County Election Center (with confirming images texted). The county-wide totals will be posted online once available from all polling places. Unused and cast ballots will be sealed separately in containers and transported (with right/left witnesses) to the Election Center for retention in the event of recounts or lawsuits. And there you have it! Free and equal elections are not theoretical or “academic”. On the contrary, they are a simple reality that is fast approaching: a single day of paper, pens, and Americans working together to achieve the will of the people. “The ballot is stronger than the bullet.” — Abraham Lincoln Virginia ShogrenCandidate for Clallam County Auditor961 W. Oak Court, Sequim, WA 98382www.VirginiaShogrenAuditor.com [https://virginiashogrenauditor.com] Credit for in-person voting methodology: 2016 Washington Democratic Presidential Caucus; California in-person elections; Voting Procedure Analysis of Terpsehore P. Maras Virginia Shogren is running for Clallam County Auditor to restore trust in our elections and ensure our tax dollars are spent wisely. Virginia believes in simple, honest government that works for the people—not special interests. She seeks accountability, lower costs, and real oversight of our elections and our money. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ccwatchdog.com [https://www.ccwatchdog.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]