Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer Dale Washam

retaliated against one of his top managers and refused to cooperate with an investigation of his behavior, a county report has concluded.

The report (here's a PDF copy), obtained by The News Tribune and posted on the assessor-treasurer’s web site today, found insufficient evidence that Washam discriminated against the employee because of her age or gender. But it found the assessor violated county policies by retaliating against the employee – administrative officer Sally Barnes – for filing complaints against him to the county human resources department.

According to the report, the retaliation included excluding Barnes from decision making, revoking her job responsibilities, assigning her to a special project and moving her to a remote office, among other things.

Washam refused to be interviewed or turn over documents requested during the investigation and refused the investigator’s request to tour the assessor-treasurer’s office.

The report, written by private attorney Diane Hess Taylor, claims Washam’s behavior violated county equal opportunity policies, which are based on state and federal law.

Washam, a political outsider elected assessor-treasurer last November, denied the charges of retaliation and called the report “dishonest, unfair (and) not even reasonable.” He said the report is an attempt to discredit him and a waste of taxpayers’ money.

The report cost the county $18,000.

“It is so bogus that it doesn’t even warrant much attention,” Washam said.

Barnes still works in the office. She could not be reached for comment Monday.

Barnes, who until recently oversaw property assessments in the assessor-treasurer’s office, has filed at least two complaints against Washam. In January, Barnes and other employees cited what they believed were inappropriate religious references Washam made during staff meetings.

According to the report, Washam sometimes made comments like “God put me here,” “after prayerful consideration” and “after praying last night.”

After employees complained, county human resources director Betsy Sawyers and County Executive Pat McCarthy asked Washam to stop making references to God and to stop asking employees to participate in moments of silence in his office, according to the report.

The report says Washam later criticized his staff for filing the religion complaint. And employees told an investigator that Washam singled out Barnes for negative treatment.

=> Read more!

U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks, not normally a fan of townhall meetings, has scheduled two to discuss with constituents the proposed changes to the health care system.

Neither, however, will be in Pierce County.

According to the congressman's website, he will host both meeting on Monday, August 31. The first will be in the Commons Building at Fort Warden State Park near Port Townsend beginning at 4 p.m. The second will be at the Kitsap Conference Center in Bremerton at 7:30 p.m..

"These sessions will offer an opportunity for constituents to express opinions about issues on the congressional agenda, helping Norm to do his job as a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives," the website says.