Schwartz Commentary: Never Trust a Troubled Government to Reform Itself

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Two years ago, I found myself seated among an assortment of Lewis County elected officials, concerned citizens and other residents for an informal breakfast in downtown Centralia. 

The topic of discussion was nothing short of revolutionary, at least in terms of local politics. 

Those on hand were all there for the same reasons. 

In short, Lewis County government appeared to be broken at worst and in disrepair at best, with most of the problems rising from the corridors of the Lewis County commissioners office. 

As the discussion took form that morning, it quickly centered on the possibility of a new form of government at the county level. 

It was a direction that had long been advocated for by The Chronicle’s editorial board, of which I was a member. Likewise, the detailed and abundant reporting from our newsroom continued to add fuel to the fire, which was quickly spreading in such a way that even a Lewis County commissioner was in attendance at the gathering, and she wasn’t exactly voicing opposition to the prevailing opinion in the room — something needed to change. 

For those with a short memory or little interest in the happenings of local government, it’s worth recounting what occurred in the months and years prior that led to a debate on the very structure of county government. The 911 Communications Center was in disarray. The commissioners were engaged in an unparalleled level of infighting. Petty disputes had broken out between the county commissioners and a number of local governments. Staffers in the commissioners office reached thousand-dollar settlements after alleging a hostile work environment. Several lawsuits had been filed against the county.

Those were just a few of the lowlights. 

Ultimately, the commissioners formed a panel — dubbed a “Blue Ribbon Task Force” — to assess county government structure. That panel delivered a recommendation that the county hire a manager, another key demand of The Chronicle Editorial Board. 

Meanwhile, One Lewis County, a political action committee formed by the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce, rose to the occasion. While many individuals discussed the possibility of a home rule charter to change the form of Lewis County government, it was the Chamber that stepped up and made the process a reality. 

They collected the needed signatures. They proposed the creation of a county manager position, among other possibilities. In essence, One Lewis County gave the constituents an opportunity to shape the future of county government.

That’s about the time I stepped away as editor of The Chronicle, seizing on an era of change in leadership here at our Pearl Street headquarters in order to pursue a job as a reporter in Clark County. 

What I found in my new position was a county government that had recently completed a home rule charter itself. The size of the Clark County Council had been expanded and a county manager had become a requirement of county government. 

In some ways, it was like hopping into a time machine and witnessing what might occur in Lewis County should voters approve the home rule charter process this November. 

To be fair, it doesn’t appear to have been a cure-all in Clark County, just as I wouldn’t expect to be the case here. 

Ultimately, local governments are only as good as the public servants elected to govern and the folks hired to enact their agenda.

Four months after my occupational vacation, I’m back at The Chronicle, this time outside the newsroom as the director of the company’s digital pursuits. 

I never really diverted my focus when it came to the home rule charter process. As a subscriber, I stayed updated on developments, two of which continue to concern me as a constituent who cares deeply after the functionality of county government. 



For one, the commissioners ultimately hired a county manager, though I continue to believe this action would never have been taken without the abundant pressure applied by One Lewis County and the freight train of the home rule charter vote. 

The commissioners hired The Prothman Company to lead the search, leading many to believe the effort could perhaps lead to the hiring of an experienced county manager. Instead, the reputable consulting firm, despite all obvious odds, found that the perfect candidate was already an employee of the county. 

While I mean no disrespect to former public works director Erik Martin, his hiring as county manager indicates a lack of interest in county management experience or expertise. I also have to wonder what direction Prothman received from the commissioners, who also interviewed Dave Campbell, a former city manager who has led governments. 

Beyond the hiring of a manager, the commissioners also chose a problematic route in drawing out districts for the home rule charter. State law requires freeholders to be chosen from within existing legislative or commission districts. 

Rather than focusing on the three existing commissioner districts, the commissioners instead chose to draw out dozens of sub-districts in what appears to be an obvious attempt at managing the outcome by reducing the number of voters in each race. 

The bottom line is, it’s never wise to trust a troubled government to reform itself. 

That’s why, regardless of apparent attempts at placating dissention and managing the outcome of a revolutionary governmental process, I remain optimistic in the possibilities come November. 

It has been more than two years since that informal breakfast in downtown Centralia. 

If it was a small matter, one drummed up by the local press as critics have alleged, this whole topic would have vanished long ago. 

Yet, here we are, months away from a historic vote.

As I return to The Chronicle in a new role, I encourage residents to vote in favor of the home rule charter and the possibility of a county government that never again becomes so broken and unwieldy that community leaders must gather to determine how to save it. 

That work has been done. 

Now, it’s up to voters to decide whether the government can save itself or if constituents must rise to the occasion to create a better structure for future generations in Lewis County. 

As for me, I continue to trust an engaged citizenry far more than entrenched politicians when it comes to repairing a government that should never have been broken to begin with. 

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Eric Schwartz can be reached at eschwartz@chronline.com