PORT ANGELES — The state Conservation Commission rules Wednesday on Mike Wiley Jr.’s bid to become a Clallam Conservation District supervisor.
But last week, Don Hatler strengthened his bid to retain his seat.
To seat Wiley, 19, the commission would have to go against the Clallam Conservation District Board of Supervisors and the commission’s own executive director.
The commission will meet at Oxford Suites, 9550 Silverdale Way in Silverdale.
Beginning at 9:35 a.m., the commission will certify conservation district elections held statewide, including Clallam’s held Feb. 19.
If Wiley is not seated, the position goes to the next highest vote-getter — Hatler.
Five supervisors
Three of the five supervisors are elected. Two of the three must own land or operate a farm.
“We conclude that Mr. Wiley does not meet the requirements of being a landowner or farmer at the time of the election,” Commission Executive Director Mark Clark told the Clallam board in a May 8 letter, citing state law RCW 29a.20.021(1).
Hatler, 72, owns land in Sequim.
Clallam district supervisors concurred with Clark at their May 12 meeting during a visit by commission elections coordinator Tom Salzer.
Hatler left the room during the approximately 10-minute discussion and vote.
The remaining four supervisors decided unanimously that Wiley, a Joyce resident, was not qualified when he outpolled Hatler 107-60 votes.
Supervisors’ chairman Joe Murray, vice chairman Ben Smith, auditor Nash Huber and board member Marilyn Pollock agreed that Wiley was not qualified.
Wiley did not attend the meeting.
E-mail notification
He was notified by e-mail of the board’s decision, Clallam district manager Joe Holtrop said.
Wiley did not return calls for comment Monday.
Hatler was out of town and unavailable for comment.
“We were investigating this on their behalf, but it took [Clallam] board action to find Mr. Wiley was not an eligible candidate at the time of the election,” Salzer said Monday.
The day after Wiley outpolled Hatler, he filled out paperwork that said “he was a landowner or operator of a farm,” Clark said in his letter.
Wiley said “clearly he was not a landowner,” but his statements regarding his agricultural activities were insufficient to show he was a farm operator, Clark said.
The commission sent him a March 4 letter saying he was unqualified to take office and invited him to send further information by March 31 to persuade the commission otherwise, Clark said.
On March 18, the commission received a copy of a March 15 quitclaim deed under which Wiley was transferred 1 percent of his parents’ property.
“By his own written statement, he was not a landowner on the day of the election,” Salzer said.
“We asked him for information about being a farm operator, and he did not provide any information about being a farm operator.”
Holtrop said Monday that candidates who file for the office fill out paperwork before the election saying they are farm operators or landowners.
“Write-ins don’t have to do that,” Holtrop said.
No revelation
Wiley did not notify the Clallam Conservation District he was running for the position, nor did he announce to the public that he was running.
On Feb. 20, the day after the election, he filled out paperwork indicating he was a farm operator or landowner.
“He checked yes,” Holtrop said. “Then he said he had a vegetable garden.”
Holtrop then asked the conservation commission for a definition of farm operator, “sending this into orbit,” Holtrop said.
“We’ve never had any question whether we’ve had the proper makeup on the board,” he said.
“That’s why we punted to the commission,” Holtrop added. “They never dealt with it either.”
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Staff writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-417-3536 or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
