Change in FD16 must come from the public

of the Gateway

THEY’RE at it again. Or did they ever stop? Key Peninsula Fire District 16 Commissioners Allen Yanity and Jim Bosch continue to paint the fire department with a brush of controversy, even though their elected positions are supposed to improve safety of the area’s residents by giving firefighters the tools they need to succeed.

A front-page story in today’s paper details a third-party investigation into a complaint filed against Yanity, and the investigator found the commissioner to be in violation of the Workplace Violence and Harassment Prevention policy against the district’s administrative manager. Discipline could come at next Tuesday’s board meeting, where Yanity may be issued a letter of censure.

Yanity’s response, a platform-based position based on the need for physical fitness standards and drug testing of firefighters, can be found in today’s opinion pages.

At this point — following all the bickering, a whack to the back of Commissioner Bosch’s head that led to stitches and Yanity’s fourth-degree assault conviction, and now a violation of harassment policy — one thing is for sure: This behavior likely won’t stop without some kind of intervention.

The latest violation is akin to a city council member harassing a city clerk. Or a school board member harassing an assistant to the superintendent. In any case, it comes down to an elected official abusing power and not doing the job he or she was elected to do.

Where does this intervention come from? Possibly the Pierce County Fire Commissioners Association, which issued a letter of censure last month to a commissioner in District 18 near Orting. In that case, a committee of three found commissioner Fred Hueneka guilty of six ethical violations, including misfeasance and failing to abide by his oath of office.

But for whatever reason, the PCFCA hasn’t acted against any FD16 commissioners yet.

What’s worse is the image that continues to be portrayed for the entire fire department. Two lid lift levies have failed in the past two years, so the department hasn’t be able to upgrade equipment or add firefighters. And that’s unfortunate, because the firefighters are good, well-trained people who need additional tools and manpower to do their jobs without relying so much on mutual aid from Gig Harbor or South Kitsap.

Yanity thinks the Bosch family is out to get him. And maybe it is. Then again, the Bosch family feels attacked by Yanity. And maybe it is. But both commissioners need to focus on making the district the best it can be. And because Commissioners Yanity and Bosch are elected officials, the most immediate intervention is up to you.

Voters must speak up, or change will never happen.