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Pepper Fisher

SEQUIM – 4 out of 6 Sequim City Councilmembers made it official at Monday night’s meeting that they want someone other than Charlie Bush to be City Manager.

Public comments during the meeting were overwhelmingly in favor of keeping Bush to direct the City, but not all agreed. Here’s a sampling of those comments.

“If there is no just cause for asking for Charlie’s resignation, it does not make good fiscal or ethical sense to go through a complicated recruitment process during a pandemic, only to try to find someone we can only hope to be as much of a leader as Charlie has been the citizens of Sequim.”

“We are in danger of losing the services of an exceptional city manager who, during his six years on the job, has served his community honorably, ethically and with outstanding professionalism and competence, qualities that, oddly enough, are alluded to in the letter the Mayor sought to negotiate with the City Manager.”

“I want to thank Charlie Bush, and what he’s done for people who are disabled in this community. Because, when he confessed in an article that he suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome and knowing that he’s been doing a huge job as a disabled person all the way through this pandemic, it hurts my heart that this is happening.”

It is possible, if not likely, this action against Mr. Bush is simple retaliation against an employee who got crosswise with Save Our Sequim. How is Sequim ever going to recruit another good city manager? Why would anyone apply for a job when it is clear that their legs can be cut out from under them at any time, no matter how well you’re doing your job? This is an embarrassment and a stain on our community.”

“It is right and proper that Charlie must resign and he knows it, too. When you look back and reflect, Mr. Bush, and I hope you do, do so with honesty, looking at your role in the destruction of what used to be a sweet, quiet, friendly community.”

Assistant City Manager Charisse Deschenes will go forward as Interim City Manager, and the Council will have to decide how they want to fill the position going forward. A nationwide search is likely but not certain.

Bush’s last day in office is not yet clear.