Jack Miles' Letter to the State Auditor

From the Desk of Jack Miles, Commissioner, Port of Shelton

6 October 2010

Brian Sonntag, State Auditor
Insurance Building
Capitol Campus
P.O.Box 40021
Olympia, WA 98584-0021

Dear Mr. Sonntag,

My name is Jack Miles. I am an elected Commissioner for the Port of Shelton. Recently, I requested audio meeting minutes of past meetings held by the Commission. At our October 5, 2010 meeting, (2) of my fellow Commissioners by a vote of 2-1, denied me access to the audio meeting minutes.

However, I was directed by the Commission and our Port Attorney Skip Hauser, to fill out a public information request form, which I have done. Their argument to this issue is that it takes up staff time, and that the Commissioners should not take up the staff’s time, and that they don’t work for the Commissioners.

The Commission has also signed a resolution (10-03) which states I must request everything through them (The Commission), if I want documents and materials to assist me in my decision making process, which really delays my efforts to make decisions and my ability to do my job as an elected official.

I’m sure your office is aware of all or most of the issues we are facing here at the Port of Shelton. I need help in this matter! After our meeting on October 5, 2010, a particular Commissioner (Thomas Wallitner) made direct threats while walking towards me, threatening to physically assault me. This came on the heels of the Executive Director, John Dobson in a phone conversation I had with him held on Monday October 4, 2010, where he commented that, “You better watch your back”. I feel completely isolated and fear for my safety.

On a number of occasions, I have heard John Dobson describe himself as a dictator. Over the last year, he has been insubordinate towards me and blatantly disrespectful, and at the meeting held October 5, 2010, after an executive session, I made a motion to suspend him without pay for a period of 2 weeks. The motion died for the lack of a second to the motion.

In recent findings through public disclosure by citizens, an email was found written by John Dobson, the Chair of the Commission, Jay Hupp and by Port Attorney Skip Hauser, that confirms I was taken out of office communications at the Port of Shelton. When I confronted Mr. Dobson, he said I was under investigation to verify if I had violated the “Appearance of Fairness Doctrine”, because I was seen with protesters who oppose a biomass facility intended to be built on Port property. I do not approve of the project, and voted no when the Commission voted to sign the option to ground lease with the company Adage, LLC.

The issue we have brewing here is: Many of the people in elected positions, Port Executive Director John Dobson and Port Commissioner Thomas Wallitner, (who transferred his tree farm to his children), have some involved invested interests. John Dobson mentioned early on to me, when ADAGE was a “business lead”, that he has an invested interest in Areva, a company with direct ties to ADAGE that he is trying to bring onto Port property. He now denies that was ever said, but says he and his wife sold their stock in Duke Energy, another company with direct ties with Adage. Here in Mason County, the citizens are mad as hell that the Port is allowing this type of air pollution to come into this community.

I don’t know which state agency to hand this over to, but I need help and direction. This matter is of grave concern. The players who want this ADAGE project to go through will stop at nothing. As I indicated above, I have been threatened by Commissioner Thomas Wallitner with physical harm and by the Port’s Executive Director John Dobson to watch my back in a matter of 2 days. I can be contacted by way of email only. Your direction will be most helpful. Thanks!

All my best,

Jack Miles
jackbroadcaster13@yahoo.com