Posted on 02/24/2011 10:29:54 PM PST by Stoat
King County Executive Dow Constantine is laying off sheriff’s deputies and county prosecutors, while using County funds to hire the private public relations firm he used in his campaign.
The King County sheriff reports Constantine’s budget cuts eliminated all property-crime investigation teams, closed neighborhood police stations and reduced other crime-fighting services.
The County Prosecutor says Constantine’s cuts resulted in a reduction of 16 deputy prosecutors and eight support staff, and that his office is less able to enforce the law against people who commit home burglary, car theft and property crimes against seniors. (Keith Ervin, The Seattle Times, 11-12-10.)
While Constantine cuts back on public safety, his Department of Executive Services quietly awarded $100,000 in public funds to buy a marketing plan that includes “development of pro-active strategic communications plan” and “development of the legislative agenda at county, state, and federal levels.”
The contract number is T03314T and it extends to December 31, 2011. The firm receiving the payment is the same one Constantine used in his most recent election campaign. The same firm received $20,000 in County funds last year (contract number T07178T).
Sometimes government contracts are used to keep campaign consultants busy between elections. Constantine is rumored to be considering a run for governor in 2012. People are losing their jobs, Constantine has cut over 300 positions, but he has found the funding to keep his campaign structure in place. In the meantime, it looks like the people of King County will just have to put up with a lower level of public safety.
***************************************
King County Executive Dow Constantine
Mailing address:
King County Chinook Building
401 5th Ave. Suite 800
Seattle, WA 98104
E-mail: kcexec@kingcounty.gov
Main phone: 206-296-4040
Fax: 206-296-0194
TTY Relay: 711
The County Prosecutor says Constantine’s cuts resulted in a reduction of 16 deputy prosecutors and eight support staff, and that his office is less able to enforce the law against people who commit home burglary, car theft and property crimes against seniors.
Time for a burglary spree!
DOES THIS MEAN LESS SEATTLE CITIZENS WILL BE MURDERED IN COLD BLOOD BY OVERZEALOUS POLICE OFFICERS? JUST ASKING...
It's absolutely sick, isn't it? He cuts law enforcement but he buys a gravel mine on Maury Island....
King County Executive Dow Constantine
King County Executive Dow Constantine announced the successful completion of the purchase of the sand and gravel site on Maury Island, ending 13 years of efforts to expand the mine. The County took possession of the land this morning, including the keys to the property gate.
.... and he hires his favorite PR firm.
Who is in charge of the tar and feathers around here?
This smells fishy.
Public records [pdf] show that the King County Executive's Office contracted last October with Democratic campaign consultant Christian Sinderman for a $100,000 14-month project to develop a "pro-active strategic communications plan", "legislative agenda at county, state and federal levels", and budget and labor relations strategies.
Sinderman's firm, Northwest Passage Consulting, is conveniently County Executive Dow Constantine's own campaign consultant, earning $245,000 from Constantine's campaigns since 2005, including a payment last November booked to the 2013 election year.
The county estimated 360 labor hours to complete the $100,000 project: $278 an hour. [p. 45]. Sinderman also performed a $20,000 no-bid "strategy" contract for the County Executive's Office in early 2010. [p. 18]
(edit)
Also, from October 2009
Politics State to investigate Constantine campaign Seattle Times Newspaper
The State Public Disclosure Commission will investigate an allegation of illegal coordination between Dow Constantine's campaign for King County executive and an independent campaign that attacked his opponent, Susan Hutchison, in the primary, the PDC said Tuesday.
(Edit)
Strange headline, I thought they were talking about (ex)King Constantine of Greece.
He looks like a boyfriend of Barney Frank.
Ferndale hired a communications firm to “survey” the district and assess the opinions of the voters. They hired a company from VA for $20,000 to do an internet survey.
I told them that if they wanted to know what the voters thought, to get out and talk to them. My precinct is in the Ferndale school district and I told the school administrators that I could pretty well tell them what the voters think. They voted 79% Republican in the last election and that pretty much says it all.
Apparently this scam was an open secret. This has become the way of doing business in the progressive community. They call it creating "green jobs".
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