I read with interest a lengthy story in The Columbian Sept. 1, “Benton’s ballyhooed management experience is hazy,” about state Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver. I was really hoping I’d read something in the article that would change my mind about him. I was hoping something in that piece would convince me two Clark County commissioners made the right decision to bypass the normal hiring process and select him for a well-paying position within the Clark County administration; that Benton was qualified to hold the position for which he was hired.
I was also really hoping there would be something, anything, that would change my mind and make me believe he was worthy of the voters’ confidence and capable of representing them in Olympia. I reread much of the article to make sure I didn’t miss anything, thinking my bias may be clouding my judgement. Unfortunately, my mind is unchanged.
In fact, I’m even more convinced Commissioners David Madore and Tom Mielke were wrong to hire Benton and that he’s totally inept to represent the voters of Clark County. Wake up, voters.
But anybody who can submit a 100-word biography, answer a few questions from Insight Publishing company, and then claim to be an author of two “books” is a marketing genius.
