This letter is in response to a recent Chronicle news article titled “Centralia Police Officers Association’s endorsement of commissioner violated city and department policy, interim chief determines.”
First, thanks to Interim Chief Andy Caldwell for his handling of the Centralia Police Officers Association’s (CPOA) concerns under Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) case number 158991. Not very many people will simply reach out to have a coffee and discuss an issue as Andy did. I am glad CPOA is taking steps to reform their entity and doing so in a clearly separated system from the city. Andy, I hope you understand our brief conversations about Morton’s K9 and why this area means so much to me.
Thanks, Andy.
Buried in the last quarter of this article were two unrelated recent concerns: Centralia Mayor Kelly Smith Johnston receiving a small penalty for inaccurate campaign books and Lewis County Commissioner Scott Brummer receiving a written warning for inaccurate campaign books.
Smith Johnston’s concern PDC case number 151427. I appreciate that she immediately fixed the issue and apologized and then promptly paid her penalty when it was assessed. We can only ask people to see and fix their mistakes, and Mayor Smith Johnston leaned right into that when raised.
Thanks, Kelly.
Brummer’s concern PDC case number 151425, I appreciate that four months after the complaint and his initial response, he did eventually modify his filings to accurately reflect the expenditure and how his personal funds covered it. I think it is important for the people to be given accurate information about a candidate spending a substantial amount of personal money to send 15,000 mailers out during his election campaign.
Thanks, Scott.
I noticed The Chronicle did briefly note the Silver Agency when quoting Mr. Brummer’s initial response and I do appreciate it was further clarified for anyone who may not know that the Silver Agency and Chronicle have the same owners. I did not, however, see any details mentioned that Smith Johnston failed to declare two transactions with the Silver Agency totaling over $6,000, nor did I see it mentioned Commissioner Brummer improperly reported a nearly $7,000 transaction with the Silver Agency he first reported as a loan. I was able to fit these important details into the word count allotted to me in this letter because I think they are important details for people to consider, and the newspaper should consider them important, too.
I still can’t quite figure out why The Chronicle put these recent determinations, both related to improperly reported campaign transactions involving a company also owned by Chad and Coralee Taylor, under a headline for the Centralia Police Officers Association and the good work Interim Chief Caldwell has been doing to clean up the lines and address a completely separate issue.
This article wraps up by mentioning a pending issue with Lewis County Commissioner Sean Swope, PDC case number 158333, but neglects to mention a separate pending issue with the Silver Agency, case number 158990, or another with the county under case number 156419.
Perhaps The Chronicle should let active concerns resolve and just report on their determinations accurately once completed instead of burying outcomes in the last quarter of articles on completely unrelated issues.
Respectfully submitted,
Kyle Wheeler
Toledo
