Two days ago WE shared a local blog post that suggested there may have been a cover-up of a high-level scandal at the Whatcom County courthouse. Today, the Bellingham Herald published County Treasurer Steve Oliver's total denial that anything ever happened.
YET, we've received footage from the recent candidate debate that seems to confirm that something did happen. One of those "We report, you decide" moments? Point is, one of these accounts has got to be false. Watch the videos, and read the Herald article.
Pete Kremen, County Executive - two questions at Oct 12, 2011 debate:
First Question:
YET, we've received footage from the recent candidate debate that seems to confirm that something did happen. One of those "We report, you decide" moments? Point is, one of these accounts has got to be false. Watch the videos, and read the Herald article.
Pete Kremen, County Executive - two questions at Oct 12, 2011 debate:
First Question:
Questioner: Joe Wilson... "I have a question for Pete. I've heard specific ah, rumors in Whatcom County affecting the treasurer's office. Recent freedom of information requests were filed, released working doc, documents. Is it true, and you met with the county treasurer, and the other party, and bypassed the human resources [time bell] department? If you did, you can expose the county to a lawsuit for sexual harassment."
Pete Kremen: "Is that a question or a statement?"
Questioner: "It's a question. Did you?"
Pete Kremen: "Did I--"
Questioner: "Meet with the two parties?"
Pete Kremen: "Yes, I did. But you're wrong about the lawsuit part. That's... I did my due diligence. And, everything was taken care of, of, with the human resources ah, department, and ah, I did what I was supposed to do, according to the law."
Second Question:
Pete Kremen: "Is that a question or a statement?"
Questioner: "It's a question. Did you?"
Pete Kremen: "Did I--"
Questioner: "Meet with the two parties?"
Pete Kremen: "Yes, I did. But you're wrong about the lawsuit part. That's... I did my due diligence. And, everything was taken care of, of, with the human resources ah, department, and ah, I did what I was supposed to do, according to the law."
Second Question:
Questioner: (unintelligible) "Pete, uh, sitting here now sorting (?) the answer you gave with to ah, question back from Joe Wilson, are you saying there's a risk in the treasurer's department, I mean, this is the entity that collects all money for all tax agencies throughout the county, and there's a serious issue that's at hand here. I'm real concerned, a taxpayer, what are we doing [time bell] to be certain that it's clean?"
Pete Kremen: "All of the responsibilities dealing with the, the meetings I had with those two individuals have been resolved. There's, there's no, both, there's no one, there's no grievance, there's no complaint, and... our prosecutor's office has looked into the matter, H.R.'s looked into the matter, and there's... the county is not e- ex- exposed in any way."
But Steve Oliver's official position, reported in the Herald is:
Whatcom County Treasurer denies rumors about relationship with employee
ZOE FRALEY - THE BELLINGHAM HERALD
October 22, 2011
Rumors of an inappropriate relationship between the Whatcom County Treasurer and one of his employees have led to questions at recent public candidate forums.
Treasurer Steve Oliver said he has not been involved in any inappropriate or sexual relationship with any of his employees, and he believes that whoever is behind the rumor may be motivated by the upcoming election between him and fellow candidate Brian Smith.
"The rumors are just rumors," he said. "It's unfortunate that they've been spun into something nefarious that has occurred. That's just not the case."
"If they really had a concern about county government, they could have asked many months ago," he said. "That they chose to bring it up the week that ballots go out - what does that tell you about their motivation?" (more...)
Pete Kremen: "All of the responsibilities dealing with the, the meetings I had with those two individuals have been resolved. There's, there's no, both, there's no one, there's no grievance, there's no complaint, and... our prosecutor's office has looked into the matter, H.R.'s looked into the matter, and there's... the county is not e- ex- exposed in any way."
But Steve Oliver's official position, reported in the Herald is:
Whatcom County Treasurer denies rumors about relationship with employee
ZOE FRALEY - THE BELLINGHAM HERALD
October 22, 2011
Rumors of an inappropriate relationship between the Whatcom County Treasurer and one of his employees have led to questions at recent public candidate forums.
Treasurer Steve Oliver said he has not been involved in any inappropriate or sexual relationship with any of his employees, and he believes that whoever is behind the rumor may be motivated by the upcoming election between him and fellow candidate Brian Smith.
"The rumors are just rumors," he said. "It's unfortunate that they've been spun into something nefarious that has occurred. That's just not the case."
"If they really had a concern about county government, they could have asked many months ago," he said. "That they chose to bring it up the week that ballots go out - what does that tell you about their motivation?" (more...)
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