I’ll bet Ravalli County residents thought the County had filed charges against Treasurer Stamey. Well, think again. According to a report in the Bitterroot Star on April 23rd, County Attorney Fulbright never filed a lawsuit authorized by the County Commissioners against Treasurer Stamey, saying “We see that as part of a bigger picture.” We the Public, should ask, “Is that “We” the County Attorney’s office, or is it “We the County Attorney’s office AND the Commissioners”? As anxious as the Commissioners are to load the County Boards with their supporters and to micromanage every insignificant event in the County, it seems ludicrously implausible to me that they were unaware the suit had not been filed. In which case, smoke and mirrors has triumphed once again.
Fulbright continued, saying her (Stamey’s) paid administrative leave was a minor matter compared to much greater costs which could come out of a possible lawsuit. Editor Michael Howell wrote,
On Thursday, Fulbright explained that the delay in filing that lawsuit was connected to other issues and involved strategic legal considerations related to the possibility of other charges, such as official misconduct, that could lead to suspension of the Treasurer without pay.
I guess failure to deposit +$1 million isn’t sufficient official misconduct. I assume the catch here is although Fulbright was directed to file the suit, the Commissioners neglected (wink, wink) to specify WHEN he should file the suit. Fulbright should explain in more detail, in common everyday English, precisely what “in other issues and involved strategic considerations…” means. His explanation smacks of legal gobbledygook.
When will this circus end??? I highly recommend you read the full story and come to your own conclusion.
Jacquie Coppage
Hamilton
Justin Gordon says
Thanks for a clear demonstration of why putting your party before your people is a disservice to your people. If you cared about the folks of the Bitterroot more than your political party you would note the dysfunction of the treasurers office well before Stamey and the commissioners you hold so much contempt for were elected. There was no excuse for the politicization of the office, the incompetence of the staff, nor the hostile work environment they created going back as far as 2008. You are correct to suggest that folks should read the WHOLE story for if they just listen to your little crew of extremist partisan tools they\’ll only get a fraction of the truth twisted to your party\’s purposes and a whole lot of insulate nonsense. We are all capable of insulting one another, the capacity to do so does not make you more special, intelligent, or enlightened than anyone else it only demonstrates you would rather waste your time with divisive derision than constructive thought. That is a shame, I for one believe you could do something positive for the valley if that was your actual end not more politics. I am curious though, how much do you think the county should spend to bring a lawsuit against Stamey, how much do you propose we go after her for, and how do you think the environment of the office prior to her taking office as revealed in the investigations released thus far will effect said lawsuit? Perhaps Fulbright doesn\’t want to waste a lot of resources to trying to recover less with a very shaky case? Common sense may often be in conflict with our partisan interests but still it doesn\’t hurt to let it prevail sometimes such as this case. You don\’t bet 0 on long odds to win , that is just silly.