Then there was state Transportation Secretary Lynn Peterson not being confirmed by the Senate earlier this month, effectively giving her the boot.
Senate Republicans were reportedly upset by the messy rollout of Interstate 405 express toll lanes on the Eastside, which caused traffic confusion, sometimes double-charged commuters and went much higher than the maximum cost Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) myriad communications representatives were claiming before its launch.
Inslee criticized lawmakers for Peterson’s ouster three years after he had appointed her to the position as being politically motivated. Oddly enough, three years is how long it took a divided Legislature to pass a state transportation plan.
It’s difficult to imagine knowingly accepting such a position as state transportation secretary at a time when the wheels were already in motion for the new state Route 520 bridge and state Route 99 tunnel projects, which lawmakers and motorists have not become less critical of in the last three years — quite the contrary. The SR 520 bridge is at about $400 million in overruns and counting, and Highway 99 is two years behind and now has a sinkhole problem.
It’s easy to blame Peterson for all of the state’s transportation woes, but the die was cast a long time ago on these projects. While Senate Republicans wanted to send a message, it’s difficult to understand how the state transportation department will somehow be right-sided by shifting gears on its leadership.
Following close behind Peterson was Washington Department of Corrections Secretary Dan Pacholke, who resigned after about four months on the job over a computer glitch that had resulted in thousands of prisoners being granted early release over the last 13 years — some with deadly consequences. This glitch was found in 2012, but there were 16 delays before the issue was resolved.
Again, Senate Republicans were outraged and not easily calmed by the fact the governor called on former federal prosecutors to look into the matter.
“It is my hope that with this resignation, the politicians who would use this tragic event for their political purposes will have satisfied their need for blood,” Pacholke wrote in his resignation letter to Inslee.
Inslee is upset with Republican lawmakers, accusing them of playing election-year politics as he eyes another term in the governor’s office.
It’s unlikely that Inslee is wrong, but maybe we should wait to see what comes of this resolution to impeach embattled state Auditor Troy Kelley, who has nothing to do with the governor’s cabinet. He’s currently preparing for a March trial over federal charges of possession of stolen funds and tax evasion, stemming from an investigation into his business practices in the real estate services industry prior to taking elected office.
Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers announced their intent to introduce a resolution to impeach Kelley in December, but there has been little to no movement on this front since then. While it wouldn’t make the governor look bad, it certainly would make many Washington residents feel better.