From Newsgroup: alt.law-enforcement

We pay taxes our governments say they need, then this!

from https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/king-county-to-weigh-reforms-after-managers-family-paid-over-800000/

King County to weigh reforms after managerrCOs family paid over $800,000
May 7, 2026 at 6:00 am Updated May 7, 2026 at 6:00 am

King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn says he wants to close gaps in the county government’s ethics process. (Ivy Ceballo / The Seattle
Times, 2024)

David Gutman By David Gutman
Seattle Times staff reporter
A Metropolitan King County Council member has proposed updates and
reforms to the countyrCOs ethics code after a Seattle Times investigation revealed a county manager oversaw payments to family members of more
than $800,000.

The new legislation, from Councilmember Reagan Dunn, would broaden
ethics rules to cover more potential conflicts of interest. It would
also require conflicts to be resolved, not simply disclosed.

rCLA review by our joint auditor and ombudsman plus a review by The
Seattle Times have pointed some ways for improvement to tighten up the
ethics code,rCY Dunn said. rCLWe must be purposeful in ensuring hard-earned public funds are used efficiently and effectively, not scattered indiscriminately.rCY

Times Watchdog stories dig deep to hold power accountable, right wrongs
and create change. This work is made possible by The Seattle Times Investigative Journalism Fund. Donate today to support watchdog
journalism in our community.
The proposal comes as the county continues to grapple with the fallout
of a high-profile audit finding its Department of Community and Human
Services put public funds at risk because of significant oversight
lapses as its budget ballooned.

The County Council is already considering a proposal to create a new
office of inspector general, a centralized system to report fraud
allegations and develop routine fraud awareness training for county contractors.

A county investigation recently found that Yolanda McGhee, who led a $10 million youth and racial justice program within DCHS, oversaw grant
payments that went to companies owned by her daughter, two brothers, a
cousin and a sister-in-law.

Last month The Times revealed how weaknesses in the countyrCOs ethics safeguards allowed McGhee to continue overseeing those payments, despite people complaining to the county about her potential conflicts of interest.

Current county ethics rules, for example, only cover conflicts of
interest with an employeerCOs rCLimmediate family,rCY defined as their spouse, child, or dependents living in their house.

DunnrCOs legislation would expand that definition to require disclosure of potential conflicts of interest with any rCLsignificant relationship,rCY defined as rCLany person where the nature of the relationship may impair objectivity.rCY

The legislation also specifies what a supervisor must do if theyrCOre
alerted to a potential conflict of interest.

In McGheerCOs case, county officials in multiple departments learned about possible conflicts of interest years ago, but either took no action or
decided they were not an issue.

Current code says a supervisor rCLmayrCY reassign work to an alternate employee to relieve a conflict of interest. The new legislation would
require reassigning work and also require informing the county office of
the ombuds and board of ethics.

rCLThe ethics complaint has to actually be resolved,rCY Dunn said. rCLWerCOd see
a complaint was made, but then DCHS didnrCOt do anything to resolve the potential conflict of interest.rCY

Dunn said he would also be looking, in future legislation, to boost
funding for the countyrCOs ethics program. The program currently has one employee, who works on ethics part-time.

The ethics program organized 79 ethics training presentations in 2009.
Last year, the program held none.

rCLI think there is a public interest in people knowing that we are taking steps quickly to begin to close the gaps in our ethics process,rCY Dunn said.

David Gutman: 206-464-2926 or dgutman@seattletimes.com. David Gutman
covers local politics and King County government at The Seattle Times, reporting on how leaders and institutions impact the lives of everyday
people.
Most Read Local Stories
Remember Tim Eyman? He's bearing bad news rCo for his own side
Stranger charged with kidnapping, rape of teen near Seattle bus stop
Which states WA is gaining and losing residents from
I-5 in Seattle sees 'new normal' for traffic jams and driving habits
Fin whale, second-largest animal on Earth, dies on WA's Samish Island
--- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2