Park district’s finances cannot be ignored

For quite awhile we’ve been made aware of the financial morass that is integral to the Vashon Park District.

For quite awhile we’ve been made aware of the financial morass that is integral to the Vashon Park District. In 2012, the King County treasurer “expressed concerns” about this issue, as well as the State Auditor in 2014 who “took issue with the debt load,” etc.

Yet, the position 5 incumbent, a former CPA, 30 years on the board, says, “You cannot have accountants and lawyers and things on a park board because a park board is not a bank.” Seems to me the “A” in CPA stands for accountant, and I well recall his buddy on the board (a lawyer no longer on the board) and their “full speed ahead, damn the torpedoes” approach to finances. (“Budget troubles dog Vashon Park District,” Sept. 19, 2012).

I intend to vote for either of the other two islanders running for position 5. Both at least seem concerned not only with fiduciary probity, but more importantly, with a reasoned request for accountability in the position.

 

— Michael Goth