Reading the May 14 story “Benton complaint targets manager,” I was surprised that Don Benton agreed to talk to a reporter. Now that he is out of a job he may feel he needs The Columbian all of a sudden to get his story out to the masses. Funny how that works.
He claims eliminating the Environmental Services Department, and thereby his job as director, was politically motivated. So what if it was? His getting the job was politically motivated. I didn’t hear him complain then.
He’s accusing Acting County Manager Mark McCauley of failing to open job recruitment to the public. But he was hired without being properly vetted after Councilors Madore and Mielke bypassed all county hiring policies and procedures. Again, there were no complaints from Benton for being hired over temporary director Anita Largent. Because of that bonehead decision by the M&M boys, the county paid her a chunk of money to settle her lawsuit for not being allowed to apply for the job. A job she was qualified for, not Benton.
Now Benton hopes “that the citizens of this county will wake up to the corruption.” We have; that’s why he’s out of a job. His gravy train has left the station. Buh bye!
