Submitted by John Nance.

It appears that Kari McVeigh’s “camp” may be panicking and embracing dirty tricks to suppress public knowledge of her involvement in a legal matter during her time as superintendent of the Beverly Hills School District, and attention from a worrisome report concerning her personal conduct at an island restaurant a few weeks back.

When all else failed on the 9th, one of her ardent supporters – Nancy Devoux – operating clearly in McVeigh’s interests, resorted to deleting commentaries she didn’t like from the social media to which they were posted. That, in essence, is conduct unbecoming a candidate for public office if, in fact, it traces back to orders from the candidate herself. Even if it doesn’t, it is a poor commentary on the forthrightness of her supporters.

Several of those erased commentaries were mine, and to say the least, I am not appreciative of such Trumpian attempts to suppress.

McVeigh’s “camp” had, as their original target, the well-researched piece by Lisa DesJardins outlining the actions and inactions of Ms. McVeigh when she took over as superintendent of the Beverly Hills School District in California approximately 18 years ago in 2008. The crystal-clear intent was not to suggest wrongdoing, but to hold McVeigh’s official acts and omissions up to public scrutiny in order to help answer the question: Has this person over time demonstrated the qualities and tendencies we want in a member of the County Council? The narrative focused primarily on the words of the California Court of Appeals which reversed a lower court decision that DID involve decisions and acts of McVeigh which can be read here:

https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/ca-court-of-appeal/1895679.html.

It is perfectly legitimate to ask whether, if the superintendent had been more aggressive in protecting the District’s money, could the disastrous legal battles have been avoided in whole or in part. And, it is right to ask whether the same type of runaway spending could happen here, a serious question that impacts the election. It is certainly clear that San Juan County, Washington, could never afford such a debacle.

And then there was a sincere posting this week by a restaurant shift manager describing a disturbing interaction with Kari McVeigh who had angrily “ordered” the employee not to carry out one of her daily duties in raising window shades in late afternoon. The writer’s statement was that she was shocked by McVeigh’s actions as well as the volume of her voice which was loud enough to be heard throughout the dining room. In her words, “I was appalled. I did not know who she was, but the server told me later. Is this the type of entitled person we want representing us?”

Aside from the unforgivable act of attempted suppression, this incident, if true and accurate, in my view is enough to disqualify anyone from public office. The very last thing we need on the County Council or in any public service position is an arrogant, entitled, and confronting attitude or nature. Again, if this is an accurate recitation, then after a sincere apology to the entire County, Ms. McVeigh owes us her withdrawal from the race.