From : Seaquist, Rep. Larry
To : 'Josh Dressel'
Cc : "Futrell, Oriana", "Hunt, Rep. Sam"
Date : Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:39:47 -0700
Subject : RE: HB 2049
Thanks, Mr. Dressel.
Many Members share your concern about the number of senior executives. We continue to work this Interim on next steps as we implement 2049. We still have a ways to go but I’m determined to get there.
Very best wishes,
Larry
Rep. Larry Seaquist
26th Legislative District Office
LA Oriana Futrell 253.858-1013
3206 50th St. Ct. NW
Gig Harbor WA 98335
From: Josh Dressel
Sent: Saturday, July 11, 2009 1:08 PM
To: Seaquist, Rep. Larry
Subject: HB 2049
Dear Representative Seaquist,
I am an author who is part of the Sunlight Foundation citizen movement and Google Transparency Bloggers group. I was a Washington State employee with the Department of Natural resources until June 30, 2009. My blog The Chrome Documents focuses on the DNR.
House Bill 2049 represents an end to a problem which has grown like wildfire throughout the state and the DNR is no exception.
I recently made a post about how the executive division has grown while the rest of the agency has been put through a 25% reduction. More interesting is my recent public disclosure request shows the current annual salary + benefits to be close to $1.9 million. For some reason the DNR failed to include two additional employees in the executive division, Marilyn Buttler and Margaret Barrett. When Goldmark took over, a number of management positions were vacant because of the hiring freeze. He took credit for leaving these positions vacant and eliminating a total of 11 management positions for a $600,000 savings over the next biennium. The annual total for the current executive management division is far larger than what it was with the last administration and the agency is presently recruiting to fill the positions Goldmark took credit for eliminating. Since posting this information, the DNR has removed the job announcements for the management positions from their website.
I am trying to get someone to take a look at the situation at the DNR. Before leaving, I was disciplined after proposing a budget idea with a potential savings of $1.8 million which caught the eye of Representative Carlyle. We began corresponding and the execs at the DNR threw up the walls of bureaucracy, punishing me for lobbying and publishing public information. The behavior of these managers is selfish and a far cry from being in the interest of the public.
Thank you very much for you time. I hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
Josh Dressel
The Chrome Documents
Google Transparency Bloggers
The Sunlight Foundation
