By Pepper Fisher
PORT ANGELES – The Clallam County Republican Central Committee Thursday night passed a resolution calling for the Clallam County Commissioners to buck state authority and open up the county during the pandemic. The resolution reads:
“Whereas the forced shutdown in response to the Covid-19 pandemic has had detrimental impacts to the economic, social, mental and emotional health and wellbeing of Clallam County residents that far outweigh any health benefits;
and Whereas edicts issued by Washington State Governor Jay Inslee threaten the autonomy of Clallam County, under its Home Rule Charter, by administratively usurping county authority and creating regional governance without legislative authority or legal due process;
Therefore, the Clallam County Republican Central Committee calls on the Clallam County Board of Commissioners to re-open Clallam County for economic, educational, and social activity, with health and safety protocols determined appropriate by individual business owners, School Boards, churches, and other entities and by the families and individuals choosing to participate or not; and to maintain the Clallam County Board of Health as an independent, local government entity.”
The resolution comes on the heels of recent letters signed by 24th District Reps. Steve Tharinger and Mike Chapman and State Senator Kevin De Wege, as well as a similar letter signed by our County Commissioners asking Gov. Inslee to reconsider his regional reopening plan and allow Clallam County to move to Phase 2 based on our exceptional Covid data, especially compared to that of the 2 regions that have been allowed to move forward.
Thursday afternoon, the Governor, when asked whether he’d reconsider his plan after seeing the letters, said he would not, claiming his plan is based on sound data and science.
County Commissioner Mark Ozias had this response to the resolution.
“The reality is that Clallam County government, like every county government, whether we are a charter county or not a charter county, are sub-agents of state government. And so what they’re asking in terms of opening the county back up, that’s not within our ability to do. You know, it’s just simply not possible. I wish we had more leverage, but that’s just not how our state and county governments are set up.”
Commissioner Ozias, himself a member of the Board of Health, said he finds it confusing why local Republicans would call to end the very safety protocols that have led to our county being among the best statewide in terms of controlling the spread of the virus.
“I find it to be just as destructive in tone and language as what we’re seeing echoed by the Republican party all across the country at every level. You know, it’s anger, frustration, vitriol, and grievance. And not a real depth of understanding of how things work. And not a lot of support for science and basic public health. And, you know, much of it driven by lies and conspiracies. It’s really frustrating.”