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Clark County ethics commission dismisses complaint against Gaston

Complaint claimed director of community services department violated policy in awarding contracts

By Shari Phiel, Columbian staff reporter
Published: January 15, 2025, 2:24pm

Clark County’s ethics commission dismissed a complaint filed against Vanessa Gaston, director of the county’s community services department, during a Friday meeting.

“During the open public meeting, the Ethics Review Commission unanimously ruled that Ms. Gaston’s actions did not constitute an ethics violation; therefore, the matter is closed,” County Manager Kathleen Otto said in an email to The Columbian.

The ethics complaint, as well as a whistleblower complaint filed in May, claimed Gaston violated county policy by failing to disclose a potential conflict of interest in awarding contracts to Community Foundation for Southwest Washington, where Gaston serves as a volunteer board member.

When asked how the contracts qualified for exemption from the county’s competitive bid process, Otto declined to comment.

“We wanted an investigation because we could not determine from the complaint alone whether an ethics violation might have occurred,” said Adam Murray, chairman of the commission. “There appears to be no evidence that Ms. Gaston abused her county position in connection with this contract.”

Murray said the commission would not be investigating claims that Gaston violated county policy in awarding sole-source contracts, meaning they were not subject to competitive bid requirements, because that is outside its authority.

In her email, Otto said the whistleblower complaint has also been closed following a review by the county’s human resources department, which found the allegations to be unsubstantiated.

Several people came to the meeting to defend Gaston. Siobhana McEwen, executive director of the Southwest Washington Equity Coalition, said she met Gaston in 2021.

“I was immediately struck by her clear level of professionalism, the high standards she set for herself and her staff, and the organizations with which she interacted,” McEwen told the commission.

She also said Gaston has worked to address systemic racism and social equity, suggesting that Gaston’s race was the reason for the complaint and The Columbian’s coverage.

“We are currently witnessing a situation in which a Black community leader is publicly questioned on her judgment and ethical understanding, despite the fact that she has nearly 20 years of exemplary service to this county and has held numerous leadership positions,” McEwen said. “Ms. Gaston’s skin color does not make her immune from making mistakes or poor decisions. It does, however, make her susceptible to ridicule, degradation and questioning in a way that is unlike anything you or I will ever experience.”

Esra Khalil, a senior program manager for the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington, also defended Gaston and the foundation’s work for the past four decades. (Neither the ethics complaint nor the whistleblower complaint alleged any wrongdoing by the foundation.)

“Throughout her tenure, Vanessa has demonstrated a track record of showing up with incredible integrity and professionalism,” Khalil said, adding that the foundation was awarded the contracts “because of the equitable grant making practices and policies we have developed over the years.”

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