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.

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Barnes filed another complaint in March, citing age and gender discrimination and retaliation. The report found insufficient evidence to support the discrimination complaint. It noted that Washam promoted another female manager over the age of 40 even as he allegedly retaliated against Barnes.

But the report concluded Washam retaliated against Barnes for filing the complaints. It claims he subjected Barnes to severe ostracism, stripped her of her duties supervising nearly half the office’s employees, assigned her to a special project to remove her from her job and moved her to an inferior office on the second floor of the Pierce County Annex.

Another possible motivating factor: the report suggests Washam blamed Barnes for the lack of physical property inspections the office failed to carry out under the previous assessor, Ken Madsen. Other employees reportedly told Washam that Barnes only followed orders and did not deserve to be blamed.

The report portrays the assessor-treasurer’s office under Washam as a place where employees fear retaliation. It identifies most employees only by a number.

According to the report, employees described the office as an “armed camp” and said Washam “has purposely tried to intimidate them by yelling and pointing his finger ... within 7-8 inches of their face.” One employee reportedly told human resources, “if he knew I was talking to you I’d be fired on the spot.”

Washam dismissed the report as riddled with conjecture and inaccuracies. Among its faults, according to Washam:

• The idea to change Barnes’ job and office came from Albert Ugas, whom Washam recently promoted to chief deputy auditor. Ugas, who became Barnes’ boss, confirmed the moves were his idea, not Washam’s.

Washam said he didn’t even know about the moves until after the fact. He said they were part of a reorganization of his office needed because of recent budget cuts.

• Washam said he has made statements like “I believe God put me here.” But he said the report makes it sound like he was trying to impose his beliefs on others when he was not.

“I’m won’t hesitate for one minute to tell you I’m a Christian,” Washam said, but added, “I don’t impose on people. It doesn’t happen.”

• Washam said he did not meet with the investigator because the process was unfair. Among other things, he cited the anonymous nature of the complaints against him.

“It’s easy for someone to stand behind a screen and make all kinds of accusations,” he said. “But how do (I) challenge them about it?”

• Washam said his employees have no need to fear retaliation. And he disputed the characterization of him as angry.

“Do I say what I think? Do I give direction? Do I have an opinion? Yes,” he said.

• Washam said he believes the report was an attempt by county executive McCarthy to exert control over his office.

“The people hired me to run this office,” Washam said. “They didn’t hire Pat McCarthy to run it vicariously through H.R.”

McCarthy called that accusation “pure silliness.”

Sawyers, the human resources director, said the department hired Taylor to conduct the investigation to assure that it would be independent.

“That’s why we got an outside investigator, so there wouldn’t be bias,” Sawyers said. “It’s not politically motivated.”

The two sides agree on this much: there’s nothing county officials can do to discipline Washam, who is an independently elected official.

Sawyers is concerned Washam’s behavior could ultimately cost taxpayers more. She said the county could be liable for any lawsuits that result from his behavior.

The report, dated Aug. 7, may not be the last on Washam’s behavior. Though she declined to provide detail, Sawyers said other employees have filed complaints against Washam.