Our Views: Kudos to Commissioner Jackson, Councilor Taylor

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It’s quite likely Lewis County Commissioner Bobby Jackson is no fan of The Chronicle.

We’ve committed tens of thousands of words to what we believe has been a lack of responsible leadership by Jackson in his position as chair of Twin Transit’s advisory board. We called for him to step down from that position in an opinion “Our Views” piece on Tuesday. On Thursday, The Chronicle received a statement made by Jackson saying he would step down the next day on Friday. He did just that, and as of 6 p.m. Friday, is no longer on the Twin Transit board. Either Commissioner Edna Fund or Commissioner Gary Stamper will replace Jackson on the three-member board.

In stepping aside, Jackson issued the following statement:

“In the weeks following the county-wide expansion effort, Twin Transit has experienced some very rough times. I, with the blessing of the board have attempted to do everything I could to right the ship, but it has become clear that it is time for new leadership to step in and move the organization forward in hopes of a more positive atmosphere for the employees and customers alike.

“I am disappointed in the fact that the measure failed, however, I respect and honor the decision of the voters and will continue to serve the citizens of Lewis County in any way I possibly can,” Jackson wrote. “My hope is that Twin Transit will be able to bring in the right leadership for the future. I want nothing but the best for every employee as they continue to provide quality transportation to the community.”

While Jackson might not be a fan of ours, we applaud his decision to step down in a good-faith effort to bring some needed healing to Twin Transit, its employees and bus riders. Jackson took the high road, and for that, we give him our kudos. 

A person related to the Twin Transit mess of the past six months also deserves recognition. 

Chehalis Councilor Chad Taylor is that city’s representative on the three-person Twin Transit board. He’s the one that pushed for an examination of leadership at Twin Transit that ultimately led to the resignation of Twin Transit Manager Derrick Wojcik-Damers and now Jackson’s stepping away. 

In mid-December at a meeting of the Twin Transit board called by Taylor, he was stymied when trying to find answers to a slew of problems popping up surrounding Wojcik-Damers.

“There are still a lot of questions that I don’t feel got answered,” Taylor said after that meeting. “I asked very direct questions and, at times, I wasn’t given direct answers.”

It was a frustrating and often heated task performed by Taylor on our behalf. But he did not quit pressing for answers. Ultimately, he succeeded.



Taylor, a public servant, does not get compensated for his work on the Twin Transit board. All he’s really received in the past few months are meetings after meetings and grief. Taylor should be proud of his resolve and the results of his efforts.

As reported in The Chronicle on Thursday by reporter Will Rubin, “Taylor added that he looks forward to the board continuing to move forward, serving the community with transparency and honesty, and that he remains excited for the future of Twin Transit.”

The board now has a task of finding a new manager to get Twin Transit rolling in the proper direction. 

One negative The Chronicle Editorial Board holds onto is the hiring process itself for Wojcik-Damers. It was led by the Prothman group, the go-to firm when agencies look to find that perfect manager. Prothman was paid about $24,000 to find Wojcik-Damers. 

As part of the contract with the county, Prothman would perform an “Internet Publication Background Search” and an “Education Verification, Criminal History, Driving Record and Sex Offender Check.”

Prothman uses the firm Sterling to perform the background checks. On its website, Sterling states it is “the global leader in background and identity services, Sterling has perfected everything your business needs to hire with confidence. … Empowering organizations to make smarter, faster, safer hiring decisions through advanced technology, accuracy, and industry-leading turnaround time, Sterling provides the foundation of trust and safety our clients need to create great environments for their most essential resource, people.”

The Chronicle newsroom was able to find Wojcik-Damers’ felony conviction through a $10 internet pay site that digs dirt on people. Granted Prothman does so much more than that background check, but for about $24,000 Wojcik-Damers’ felony conviction history should have been unearthed.

Having an aggressive, smart community newspaper such as The Chronicle makes for good government. If the county wants any help in vetting the next manager, by all means give us the top three names of the top candidates.