In Our View: County GOP Wounds Itself

Chalk it up as another self-inflicted wound for the Clark County Republican Party. When the Washington Public Disclosure Commission determined Monday that it found no evidence Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey had violated any laws or had acted unethically in his advocacy for a county charter on last November’s ballot, the decision served as a rebuke for the local party. It also served as an example of the misguided intransigence that is emblematic of the Clark County GOP.

When an elected board of freeholders last year proposed home rule charter that would, among other things, expand the county’s ruling board from three members to five members, Kimsey was asked to provide a two-page explanation of the charter for the Voters’ Pamphlet. Kimsey, a Republican, also then spent time advocating for passage of the charter.

That resulted in a complaint from Clark County Republican Party Chairman Kenny Smith alleging that Kimsey had misused his office in his support for the charter. Clark County Prosecutor Tony Golik referred the matter to the state’s attorney general, citing a conflict of interest because of his office’s close working relationship with Kimsey’s office. All of which led to Monday’s determination by the Public Disclosure Commission. All of which led to an embarrassing situation for the local GOP. Kimsey said: “I’m very pleased that the PDC staff has conducted a thorough investigation into these allegations and concluded that I carried out my responsibilities diligently, appropriately, and legally in my efforts to retain the trust and confidence of citizens.”

Kimsey, during his 16 years as auditor, has made a habit of performing his duties with diligence, and his re-election in November marked the third consecutive election in which he has not drawn a challenger from either party. The fact that his most outspoken critics reside within the leadership of his own party should bring that party to re-examine its priorities. As U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, also a Republican and also a frequent target of the Clark County GOP, said earlier this year: “A movement can’t grow if it is more concerned with burning heretics than winning converts.” Or, as Republican activist and former candidate Carolyn Crain posted online, “Greg would not knowingly break the law. Angry, vindictive witch hunts are reducing the party image significantly.”

Therein lies the shortcoming of the Clark County Republican Party. While no elected representative is above reproach, the local party has developed a habit of attacking its own to the detriment of the party as a whole. While there are issues that require dissent and discussion, the local GOP has demonstrated an inability to choose its battles wisely. The result is a string of embarrassments, as reflected by Monday’s ruling from the Public Disclosure Commission.

According to the PDC report, Kimsey “took steps to ensure that the information contained in the Voters’ Pamphlet was fair and objective.” The report also said, “PDC staff recommends that the Commission recommends to the Washington Attorney General that he take no further action concerning the allegations.” At its heart, the complaint was a sophomoric reaction to the passage of the charter, which was opposed by Clark County Republicans but was approved by 53 percent of voters. While the complaint was filed on Election Day in an attempt to avoid the appearance of vindictiveness, in truth it represented an attempt to scuttle the will of voters.

As Monday’s ruling points out, that attempt was misguided. And that leaves Clark County Republicans with little to do but lick their wounds.