PORT ANGELES — A group of about 50 4-H members and their adult mentors took part in an after-school protest earlier this week after hearing of the cut of a county position that supports their organization.
Eleven-year-old Claire Henninger, the Pure Country 4-H Club reporter, organized the Wednesday protest after learning that Lori Kennedy, the secretary in the county Extension office, was one of the county employees who lost her job in recent budget cuts.
“We’ve had cuts in the past,” Henninger said.
“Now they’re almost cutting us in half.”
Gina Royal is now left alone in the Washington State University Extension Office to do everything for 4-H, said Julie Mobrey, the adult leader of the Pure Country 4-H Club.
“The office was already understaffed,” Mobrey said.
Coordinated programs
Royal and Kennedy were responsible for coordination between the clubs, for researching information club volunteers need to administer their programs and as mediators when conflicts arose between clubs.
The Extension office coordinates 4-H, the Clallam County Master Gardeners program and other county programs.
Kennedy, who had been in the position for 14 years, began work Thursday in the county’s Health and Human Services Department, having bumped another worker, said Muriel Nesbitt, Master Gardeners program coordinator.
Based on seniority
After it was announced that Clallam County would have to cut 15 jobs to help balance a $2.4 million budget shortfall, the county’s union members started “bumping” employees based on seniority.
“I’m the only person left who is [completely] county-paid,” Nesbitt said, adding that much of Royal’s salary is paid by Washington State University.
Requests for comment from county officials were not immediately answered Thursday.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
