The CK Wire

Binion here:

The e-mail buzzed Republican County Commissioner candidate Abby Burlingame’s iPhone shortly after midnight.
But what made the message from the personal e-mail account of the Kitsap County Department of Community Development director most odd were the contents.

Following a terse first paragraph in which Larry Keeton says he learned the department had been made “a campaign issue,” Keeton got to his first of the five points in the July 15 treatise:

“I don’t take lightly any assault on my department’s staff. While I’m fair game, my staff is not. It’s the Army Colonel in me. Attack me for my leadership, not my staff. If you choose to, make sure it’s my decisions, not my personal integrity and honor. If you do, I think you’ll find few solid supporters in that arena; more importantly, I will defend myself in that regard.”

However, Keeton concedes he heard about the alleged trash talking second-hand. Burlingame, who forwarded the e-mail to the Central Kitsap Reporter, denies badmouthing the department staff and says her campaign’s beef is with the “anti-growth” policies of the commissioners. Meanwhile, Democrat and professional builder Wally Carlson, who has been outspoken in his criticism of the department and its employees, said he did not receive a similar e-mail.

Government officials usually tread carefully when responding to political candidates. Beyond offering to meet and answer questions, they usually don’t respond, they are too busy governing. There is also the chance that the candidate could be their boss one day.

Keeton did offer to meet with Burlingame, but between his opening warning and his offer to meet, Keeton included more than 600 words. To give an idea of length of points two through five, this post doesn’t have 600 words.

Burlingame thought it was inappropriate. She said she has been meeting with officials, and planned on contacting Keeton, but now plans not to.

If given the chance to take it back, Keeton said he would have still written to the candidate, but he would have taken a different tack. He said he is often awake late at night, working, and that’s when he sent the e-mail.

The tone was the result of frustration Keeton feels. His department has shrunk by more than 40 percent, he said. But there have been more than 200 “efficiencies” implemented in the nearly four years he’s been on the job.

Despite the economy-fueled decrease in the number of building permit applications — Keeton said a tiny fraction are denied — there are less people to do the work, and often applications are made by non-experts, requiring more time to ensure the plans conform to the law.

The process is open to criticism, he said, but uninformed criticism helps nobody. And he was quick to admit the department isn’t perfect.

Democratic Commissioner Josh Brown, who is a third of Keeton’s boss and opponent Burlingame’s prime target in the race for the District 3 commissioner’s seat, said he wished the director had taken a more “positive tone.”

Although Burlingame doesn’t intend to call on Keeton for a meeting, if elected she said she could work with him.

“It’s an e-mail, it’s not the end of the world.”

See original e-mail below:

From: “Larry Keeton” <XXXXXX@wavecable.com>
Date: July 15, 2010 12:11:17 AM PDT
To: <info@abbyburlingame.com>
Subject: Department of Community Development issues

Ms Burlingame,

As the Director of Community Development, I learned today that you and Mr. Carlson have decided to make the Department a campaign issue.

First, I don’t take lightly any assault on my department’s staff. While I’m fair game, my staff is not. It’s the Army Colonel in me. Attack me for my leadership, not my staff. If you choose to, make sure it’s my decisions, not my personal integrity and honor. If you do, I think you’ll find few solid supporters in that arena; more importantly, I will defend myself in that regard.

Second,  you’re running on a campaign platform to “streamline” the permitting system. What does that mean? Do you know the issues we face under federal and state law that might preclude this “streamline” process? I agree we need to continue to find efficiencies. Are you willing to suggest that the department be given additional resources at the expense of a Sheriff’s Deputy? Given that we’re a special revenue fund, are you willing to suggest that fees need to be increased to bring on more staff to process the permits? Or are you willing to suggest that we only take in applications that are professionally prepared versus the citizen who decides to draw his plan out without fully following the code requirements? Are you willing to suggest a formal standard by all the engineering firms, such as WSDOT requires, to help streamline the process? Are you willing to suggest that maybe contractors who build should be code certified as other states require before they become contractors? It’s easy to say that government needs to change, but what about those submitting their permit applications? Shouldn’t they have a requirement to be correct when they submit? You’ve not asked to speak with me or my staff regarding the issues we face. It appears you’re  only hearing people who have issues with the department because they didn’t get what they want, I’ll be more than willing to spend time with you presenting the other side of the story. Leadership is about making decision based on facts, not emotion. I know. I’ve been doing it for over thirty five years, and people’s lives, not some permit  weighed in the decision. The mark of a good leader isn’t identifying that they have a problem, but how they solve the problem.  My track record in problem solving got me here. And, I’m not hearing key stakeholders asking for my head on a platter. Quite the opposite.

Third, Representative Angel is endorsing you, as well as the Realtor Association. Have you asked them what they think of the Department under my leadership? I was hired by Representative Angel when she was a Commissioner. Did she make a mistake? During her tenure here, and after her departure, she’s not called for my termination. Nor have the Realtors, the Homebuilders, the environmental community, etc. Am I missing something?

Fourth, does the Department have problems? You bet. But, in the last three years, we’ve implemented over 200 process improvements. We’ve got performance standards that we report accurately, even when they are not flattering. As a Department, we’ve been  as transparent as we can be because I have a personal value system that requires it.  We’ve reduce staff from 87 FTE to 48.5 since 2008, many taking a 20-25% cut in salary, including the management team. There was no public outcry with those reductions, but now people complain they are not getting their permits within two to four weeks. That was the standard staffed at the previous level. It’s like being in the only barbershop in town. If there’s only one barber and ten people walk in the door at the same time, nine are going to have to wait. But, if you asked the customer to pay more money to hire another barber so they didn’t have to wait, what would they say? Most likely answer, no, we’ll wait. But, when it comes to government, that’s unacceptable. I have to ask why? Don’t  you?

Fifth, in the last campaign, out of the field of many, only two candidates ever visited me to discuss departmental issues. Then they drew up their solutions. One of them won their election. The other one was an incumbent who had the advantage of knowing what was happening.

If you would like to meet with me or my deputy, please contact me at 337-4402/XXXX. As of next Friday, I won’t have an administrative assistant due to retirement and our inability to hire a replacement, so phone calls will go to my voice mail. Given the number of calls I receive a day, it might be awhile before I get back to you. Alternatively, you can respond to this email, or my office email at lkeeton@co.kitsap.wa.us.

Regards,

Larry Keeton

Director, Community Development

Kitsap County