Clallam County Watchdog

From flooded neighborhoods and tents on sidewalks to $100,000 pilot programs with no participants and tribal empires crying poverty during a shutdown, this week’s stories reveal a pattern: when government talks about “resilience,” it usually means residents are the ones left to adapt. Public interests keep taking a back seat to politics, partnerships, and press releases. CC Watchdog takes a closer...

Out-of-town fugitives, convicted sex offenders, and violent repeat offenders are increasingly turning up in Clallam County — drawn by taxpayer-funded “harm reduction” programs, free housing, and a justice system that seems designed to accommodate them rather than protect residents. As the county considers a new “Criminal Justice Tax,” many are asking the obvious question: Why would we pay more for...

From neglected safety warnings to questionable grant policies and disappearing transparency, this week’s stories show a county that talks about compassion, equity, and public service—but too often forgets to practice them. Here’s what your leaders aren’t prioritizing, and what citizens are noticing. When Compassion Turns to Chaos For five years, Michael Heller’s escalating behavior—from setting fi...

After cancelling a scheduled interview , Olympic Medical Center Commissioner Ann Henninger submitted written answers to CC Watchdog — addressing her dual role with the Jamestown Tribe, OMC’s $70 million in recent losses, and the hospital’s ongoing struggle to rebuild trust with patients and taxpayers. Henninger insists the hospital is on the mend, partnerships are vital, and transparency is improv...

This week, Jake Seegers exposes how Clallam County’s commissioners have chosen compliance over courage — enforcing costly state building codes that push working families out of the market, while quietly excusing their own departments’ failure to follow state law. From energy mandates pricing out homebuilders to new restrictions on RV living, Seegers lays out how bureaucracy, not “anarchy,” is dest...

A convicted sex offender from Spokane — already found guilty of molesting a 12-year-old girl — was repeatedly arrested and released in Clallam County. Now he’s charged with raping another child. Meanwhile, local officials move mountains overnight to provide “security” for themselves against public criticism. The contrast should outrage every taxpayer and parent in this county. Clallam County is on...

For five years, Clallam County resident Michael Heller has been a constant presence on the police scanner—disturbances, arsons, assaults, and public meltdowns. His behavior has become a fixture in community chatter, a source of fear for families, and a drain on public safety resources. With dozens of local nonprofits and behavioral health programs claiming to provide help, one has to ask: what doe...

Ron Allen’s induction into the Native American Hall of Fame marks a remarkable achievement — but it also exposes a double standard in Clallam County governance. While the Tribe’s $100 million annual budget nears that of the entire county, its growing land base continues to erode the local tax rolls. Meanwhile, county commissioners refuse to respond to federal impact inquiries or even ask for fairn...

IMPORTANT: Because of recent changes and potential delays with the postal service, election officials in Washington State strongly recommend using an official ballot drop box instead of mailing your ballot. Why do dangerous offenders from across Washington—and even Oregon—keep finding their way to Clallam County? With its struggling economy and already strained services, our community is increasin...

Indivisible Sequim’s newly released list of endorsements for the 2025 local elections reads less like civic guidance and more like a partisan roadmap — complete with ideological labeling, selective praise, and personal attacks. Their “research” has exposed a troubling shift: from community engagement to political tribalism. When Indivisible Sequim published its 2025 voter endorsements , it framed...

Every week brings new headlines that remind us how far the words of our local leaders drift from their actions. Whether it’s the County fencing itself in, the City of Sequim reading proclamations that no one accepts, or Port Angeles ignoring public safety in its long-range plan, the pattern remains the same: appearances over accountability. Here are snippets from around Clallam County and beyond t...

Clallam County leaders say they need more of your money to “maintain essential services.” What they don’t mention, according to guest contributor Jake Seegers , are their own raises, car stipends, and voluntary dues they’ve already covered with your tax dollars. While preaching fiscal discipline, commissioners keep expanding payrolls, padding perks, and funding organizations that lobby for higher...

A Port Angeles grandmother’s plea for safety on Sixth Street exposes the widening gap between City Hall’s ideals and residents’ reality. When city leaders focus on philosophical debates instead of urgent threats, the result isn’t compassion — it’s negligence. When a Port Angeles resident wrote to the entire City Council expressing fear for her grandson’s safety, she wasn’t asking for a lecture on...

Residents are looking to their city and county officials for protection, fairness and basic duty of care. Instead, too often they find selective enforcement, shuttered lines of accountability and serious questions left unanswered. The following collection of ten stories — from a Good Samaritan who was stabbed, to children in harm’s way, to local government’s dismissive posture toward the public —...

County Commissioner Mark Ozias’s recent Sequim Gazette column, presented as part of the “County Spotlight” series, reads less like neutral information and more like a campaign pitch for the county’s proposed levy lid lift. Published as news rather than opinion — and without a counterpoint — the piece highlights growing concerns about blurred boundaries between government communication and independ...

From soft-on-crime failures to taxpayer-funded favoritism, these ten stories reveal how leadership at every level — city, county, and school — are putting special interests ahead of the public good. The Cost of “Compassionate” Justice On Sunday, a Port Angeles man was stabbed during an apparent carjacking — his vehicle was stolen with seven children still inside. The children, ranging in age from...

Clallam County’s commissioners say they’re working for you — but their internet history tells another story. Public records reveal gaming, personal finance browsing, and political sticker displays on taxpayer-owned laptops. As they push for a tax increase, the question is simple: are they really working for the public, or for themselves? When “Public Service” Goes Offline The three men elected to...

County residents are at the center of decisions that will shape our economy, public safety, and everyday costs. From soaring utility rates and taxpayer-funded projects to looming threats to local jobs, this snapshot reveals who’s accountable—and why your vote matters more than ever. Sequim Water App: Who Really Paid? The Sequim Gazette recently highlighted an app created by the League of Women Vot...

At a recent budget meeting, County Assessor Pam Rushton and the commissioners showcased the tech and tactics now used to track every property and structure in Clallam County. High-definition aerial imagery, street-level LIDAR, and AI-powered valuation software are being deployed to raise assessed values — all during a levy-lift year. With voters being asked to raise a portion of their property tax...

At the Roosevelt Luncheon, Clallam Democrats praised fairness, equity, and shared responsibility. But their choice of a tax-exempt venue revealed a contradiction that local taxpayers can’t afford to ignore. The Clallam County Democrats are calling their annual Roosevelt Luncheon a success. In their latest newsletter, Clallam Democrats Rising , they proudly wrote: “We were extremely honored to have...

When Olympic Medical Center Hospital Commissioner Ann Henninger agreed to an interview with Clallam County Watchdog , it was set to cover governance, transparency, and community trust. The interview was cancelled, but questions submitted by local residents deserve answers. Henninger is invited to respond here—or in her own words in the comments. Olympic Medical Center is facing one of the most ser...

Podcast listeners were expecting today’s scheduled audio-only interview with OMC Hospital Commissioner Ann Henninger . Unfortunately, Henninger had to cancel yesterday, citing work obligations and her wish to pause, reflect, and honor Pregnancy and Infant Loss Memorial Day . This interview will not be rescheduled. Clallam County’s new “monthly Q&A” was supposed to make government more accessible....

Former County Commissioner Ron Richards says Clallam County is losing up to $3 million a year in tax revenue from Jamestown S’Klallam trust and exempt properties — yet county leaders refuse to even answer federal inquiries about the losses. While public safety and health programs face cuts, the County Commissioners are asking residents to raise their own taxes instead of addressing the growing tax...

Tonight marks the first of three public Budget Town Hall Meetings hosted by the Clallam County Board of Commissioners as they prepare the 2026 budget. Once again, the county faces a deficit, and the commissioners are floating tax hikes to fill it. And once again, the shortfall is the result of years of unchecked spending and a culture that rewards mistakes rather than accountability. Take a closer...

The Charter Review Commission (CRC) was meant to be a beacon of democracy, refining our home-rule charter with public input. Instead, it’s a web of deception and secrecy, with blatant lies and possible Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) violations undermining trust. Public records expose a process hijacked by CRC Chair Susan Fisch and County Commissioner Mark Ozias, who prioritize private agendas ove...