Private attorney Josephine Townsend says mismanagement and chronic dysfunction in the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office have driven her to challenge Prosecutor Tony Golik in the upcoming election.
Townsend, 54, of Vancouver said she filed as a candidate in the late afternoon of the May 16 deadline, after she learned no other Republican had opposed the Democratic incumbent.
“What played a role in my decision … was really believing a quality person was going to file, and no one filed,” Townsend said. “I decided to step up. It was a hard decision. No one likes to step into a hornet’s nest, but there needs to be a change.”
Townsend said she’s concerned that there’s an appearance of favoritism toward certain employees in the office. As a result, multiple veteran deputy prosecutors have resigned or retired early, she said. Among them were former Deputy Prosecutor Mike Dodds, who retired in June 2013, and Deputy Prosecutor Jim David, who retired in April this year. Deputy Prosecutor Alan Harvey also was fired May 16 for insubordination, but Harvey claims the termination was retaliatory.
“There are a lot of broken bridges that need to be rebuilt,” Townsend said. “There is a lot of hostility, a lot of people leaving who put in a lot of time and work in the office. A prosecutor’s job is to find justice, and they need to get back to that and not be distracted by all this other stuff that’s been going on in that office.”
Golik denies that he has mismanaged his office or treated employees unequally. He says he believes the majority of his employees support him.
“She is going to latch onto what a disgruntled employee who has been terminated might say, but it’s not an accurate report on all the good things people in this office have accomplished during the last few years,” Golik said of Townsend.
“There have been just a couple of people out of the entire office that have created some drama, but it’s a very small segment of the office, and the vast majority are people who just want to do their job, and they’re very dedicated to the office,” Golik said.
He said many of his employees turned out and carried signs for his re-election during his participation in the Hazel Dell Parade of Bands May 17.
“That gives you an indication of how unified the office is,” he said.
Townsend juggles a private law practice with teaching law and human resources classes at Portland’s Warner Pacific College and working as a human resources consultant. She graduated from Syracuse University College of Law in 2001, while finishing a nearly 19-year career as a trooper, then sergeant, with the New York State Police.
Townsend is a former chief prosecuting attorney at the city of Vancouver. She resigned in 2005 amid irreconcilable differences with her employer and then unsuccessfully sought election to a couple of judicial positions.
She recently requested that the Washington State Patrol investigate whether Golik and two of his former employees used county time and resources to try to influence the bar poll, public opinion and Washington Women Lawyers during a judicial race in 2012 between Townsend and then Clark County Superior Court Judge Diane Woolard.
The WSP declined the request on Tuesday on the basis that the complaint should first go to the sheriff’s office, according to State Patrol spokesman Bob Calkins.
Townsend said she filed a tort claim with similar allegations on May 14 with the Clark County Board of Commissioners. Rebecca Tilton, clerk of the board, said Tuesday that the county had not received a tort claim by Townsend.
Golik, 47, a former deputy prosecutor, was elected to his position in November 2010, succeeding longtime Prosecutor Art Curtis, who retired. Golik started at the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in 2000 and became a major crimes deputy prosecutor there in 2004.
Halfway through the first year as prosecutor, Golik was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of cancer. He completed a regimen of chemotherapy and radiation. The cancer is in remission.
Golik said he’s proud of his office’s multiple accomplishments during his tenure.
He oversaw the inception of the Elder Abuse Justice Center, a prosecution specialty unit that targets financial and abuse crimes against vulnerable adults and one of Golik’s 2010 campaign promises.
He also listened to and acted on a suggestion by defense lawyers to provide alternatives for defendants accused of drug possession. Under a policy he enacted, drug offenders with no more than four prior nonviolent convictions may avoid a felony conviction when they complete the terms of a therapeutic drug court program. Previously, those who completed the therapeutic program still received a felony on their record, presenting obstacles to continuing education and employment, Golik said.
He also oversaw the establishment of a misdemeanor diversion program, which also allows certain defendants to avoid a criminal record.
Under his leadership, he said, the Children’s Justice Center switched to a new interview model for children in abuse cases. Instead of police officers’ interviewing the children, an expert forensic interviewer questions them. All of the interviews are filmed so that a jury can watch the footage during trials. Other counties have asked to contract with Clark County to use the forensic interviewer.
Golik said he already has three major endorsements: former prosecutor Curtis, Sheriff Garry Lucas and Camas Police Chief Mitch Lackey.
With her later start, Townsend said, she has some catching up to do in endorsements.
“I have my work cut out for me,” Townsend said.
The winner will be elected to a four-year term and receive an annual salary of $156,353.
