PORT ANGELES — Selinda Barkhuis announced Tuesday that she intends to step down as Clallam County treasurer at an unspecified date.
She read a statement to the county commissioners Tuesday.
Here is Barkhuis’ full statement:
“1. Due to health reasons resulting from work related stress, I have identified a need to transition out of this position. I find myself physically and mentally no longer able to function as Clallam County’s public ATM, where powerful people get to push my buttons until I cry uncle and I spit out the money regardless of my opinion as to whether such disbursements are ‘according to law,’ consistent with my oath of office and fiduciary responsibilities.
“2. I am not quite ready to give notice. Instead I am giving you a heads up on what’s going on in my head so that you can start considering how to identify and vet a successor Treasurer willing to assume signature authority and fiduciary responsibility over $100 million in Clallam County public funds, subject to long lists of mandatory and essential duties, personal liabilities, financial predators, and political sociopaths.
“3. I want to take this opportunity to make it clear that I do not intend to involve myself in educating and vetting potential candidates, that interested parties should instead contact the Board of County Commissioners directly as it is entirely your responsibility to identify and appoint a successor.
“4. What I will henceforth focus my attention on, beyond taking care of my health and working with my staff, is preparing a settling business report that will account for the taxpayers’ public funds and outline the various challenges facing the Office of Clallam County Treasurer, to be presented to the public, the Board of County Commissioners, and my successor when I am ready to leave.
“5. I have no next step to offer the Board of County Commissioners at this point.”
