My phone has been ringing off the hook with people telling me to check out an article that describes both where Steve "The Slimeball" Stuart threw Marc Boldt under the bus AND Boldt's latest debacle: his decision to lend his wife's employer enough money so they could make payroll... meaning Dawn Boldt, Marc's wife and my sister-in-law, could get paid.
First of all, it's clear this is an obvious conflict of interest by Boldt.
Providing what amounts to funds so his wife can get paid... providing TAXPAYER funds... is precisely that: a conflict of interest.
RCW 42.23.030Beside the idiocy of using a projected almost $1,000,000 of taxpayer money for a private entity, is it remotely possible that Marc did not understand that enabling a private entity by allowing them to have access to taxpayer dollars... (Loan? Loan my ass.... and how is it that we have that much money laying around that we can just give it away?) to meet their payroll WHEN HIS WIFE IS ON THAT PAYROLL is an obvious conflict of interest?
Interest in contracts prohibited -- Exceptions.
No municipal officer shall be beneficially interested, directly or indirectly, in any contract which may be made by, through or under the supervision of such officer, in whole or in part, or which may be made for the benefit of his or her office, or accept, directly or indirectly, any compensation, gratuity or reward in connection with such contract from any other person beneficially interested therein.
And if they do take such an action:
RCW 42.23.050
Prohibited contracts void -- Penalties for violation of chapter.
Any contract made in violation of the provisions of this chapter is void and the performance thereof, in full or in part, by a contracting party shall not be the basis of any claim against the municipality. Any officer violating the provisions of this chapter is liable to the municipality of which he or she is an officer for a penalty in the amount of five hundred dollars, in addition to such other civil or criminal liability or penalty as may otherwise be imposed upon the officer by law.
In addition to all other penalties, civil or criminal, the violation by any officer of the provisions of this chapter may be grounds for forfeiture of his or her office.
And what about The Slimeball?
Why did Stuart allow this to happen? He MUST have known it would be a conflict for Boldt.
And why didn't this wait until Mielke got back from being out of town?
Boldt either did not know this obvious conflict was a conflict, or he knew but did not care.
No matter. That it IS a conflict is just that: obvious; Boldt cannot unfire that bullet, and he must resign. Right now. Today.
Or be branded with the same corruption label that all those crooked in office must bear... likely to be destroyed this November... and face the inevitable investigations and likely court actions that will follow.
Boldt explains loan to wife's employer.
By Stephanie RiceMore:
Columbian Staff Reporter
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Clark County Commissioner Marc Boldt said Thursday the fact that his wife works for Lifeline Connections did not influence his vote to approve a loan to the private nonprofit.
Boldt, the chairman of the Board of Commissioners, also said he will recuse himself from voting Feb. 21 when the board will decide whether to approve a larger loan.
On Wednesday, Boldt and Commissioner Steve Stuart voted to loan Lifeline Connections, the county's only inpatient substance abuse treatment provider, $190,000 so the organization would be able to make payroll.
The third commissioner, Tom Mielke, has been absent from meetings this week. He's been in Spokane, caring for a family member, said Administrator Bill Barron.
At least two commissioners needed to approve the loan.
Boldt said Thursday that Dr. Gilbert M. Simas, Lifeline's medical director and interim executive director, contacted him last Friday to tell him the organization was not going to be able to meet payroll.
Boldt said he met with Simas and two other top Lifeline employees Monday and put them in touch with key county employees.
On Wednesday, during the board's weekly meeting with Barron and other senior officials, Simas officially asked for the loan.
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