Well, well, well. The two former traveling buddies, who once trotted the world at the expense of CWS ratepayers, are now embroiled in a fight, and it is spilling over into the Washington County administrative and political scene. I am speaking about the disgraced and former Clean Water Services CEO, Diane Taniguchi-Dennis, and the Dragon Lady who leads our County, Commissioner Kathryn Harrington. Today’s Oregonian reports on communications that they have received copies of, in which the CEO accuses Harrington of creating a hostile work environment, which led to her resignation. The Herald has received numerous accounts of how close these two were over the years and how their lives were reported as being deeply intertwined. We are still awaiting the Public Records and Accounting of all the expenditures that CWS spent to send Taniguchi-Dennis, Harrington, and others around the world. Records they refuse to release, which has now led to us filing a 2nd Ethics complaint with State regulators.
Here is today’s hard-hitting story by Jamie Goldberg at The Oregonian/OregonLive-
Embattled sewer CEO accused board chair of creating ‘hostile work environment’ before departure
From that story: “I don’t know why there are times when you are amazing and yet other times when you are abusive,” Taniguchi-Dennis wrote in the email obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive through a public records request. “When you are abusive, it is very ugly, damaging, and no one deserves to be treated this way.”
Read it and understand how these communications take us behind the scenes.
The Oregonian broke the story of abusive travel and meal expenses at CWS earlier this year. Those revelations initiated a process that led to an investigation to review potential abuse of power. As more information came to light, we all sat and watched as the players involved began to pressure and attack each other, some openly and mostly behind closed doors. Today’s article explains why the County Commissioners agreed two weeks back to pay the CEO a settlement after she resigned. See the Herald’s article from June 15th.
In the Oregonian article today, we learn that Washington County has hired a law firm with approved expenses of up to $50,000 to investigate the claims of abuse and harassment brought by Taniguchi-Dennis against Harrington. It’s bad enough that these two (and other officials) wasted money traveling all over the world and incurring thousands in meals and lavish hotel rooms. Now, we all have to pay for this? Oh, hell no.
Did Harrington scold and abuse the former CEO? Was she hostile towards her? At the meetings I attended and watched, I thought she was tough but not overly so. And I am not here to defend Harrington, whom I regretably supported years ago when she made her ascent to the throne she believes she sits on now. I imagine the emails and texts were much, much worse. However, for the CEO to claim that she was somehow treated abusively is a joke. The reports we have from over a dozen employees at Clean Water Services are that she was one of the most caustic and abusive executives they have ever experienced. I would not be surprised at all if a Class-Action suit is not brought by some of the CWS rank and file against Taniguchi-Dennis and the elite guard of executives she surrounded herself with. If you are a lawyer working in this area, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me. I can probably set you up with a case that will retire you if allegations are true- that is how bad it has been explained to me.
As for Harrington, she is a mess, and it is time for her to go. She has embarrassed her office in so many ways. From refusing to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance and refusing to acknowledge a proclamation on Juneteenth, to a prior investigation for abusing County staff and more, it’s enough. Her Ego is running unchecked, and while she may be a Democrat supported by the Washington County Dems elite, her reflection in the mirror is that of sitting President DJT. We must all admit that many people on both sides of the aisle are unfit to hold Public Office. That is where she is at now. She is hurting our County and our people. Now is the time for authentic leadership and not rants and theatrics. Leadership she has failed to provide for some time now.
Harrington made news in 2022, and a report was issued on her conduct. This is just more of the same, 3 years later, and here we are. As bad as Taniguchi-Wallace acted, I wonder how much of her actions were coached, orchestrated, or mandated? With this fight now spilling out into the media and the public eye, it is time to hear the truth. We have a source within CWS who indicated that the former CEO and other CWS staffers provided support in various ways to Harrington during the 2022 investigations. That information is only alleged, and we have not been able to confirm it.
In closing this opinion piece today, I would like to reach out to Diane.
To Diane Taniguchi-Dennis:
Diane, you have resigned and received a settlement, and I know you have a PERS retriement package that most people would kill for. But what about your legacy, how you will be remembered. I want to provide the space and opportunity for you to clear the record. It seems as we have talked to your former employees and excutives too that you were a pawn in a bigger game. Have you ever considered sitting down and just laying it all on the table? Because you are clearly being blamed for setting up the controverisal Clean Water Insurance Company in Hawaii- but I have been told that former County Commissioner Roay Rogers and others were deeply behind that. Now you are being blamed for all of the travel decisions, and there is an ongoing investigation into more travel and more ethical breaches. But I believe there is a very real possibility that you were merely a puppet in a bigger game. And it might be time to fall on your sword. It might help your health and allow you to live a more peaceful life if you just out everyone and everything. I promise to be fair and to follow every lead you give us. You can call me at 503-799-8383 or send me email or even anonymous information to HillsboroHerald@gmail.com. You deserve a chance to be heard and not silenced. And I think your former friend and overseer threw you under the bus, backed up over you a couple times and kept going- metahphorically speaking of course. I truly hope to hear from you.
Even $5 a month will help keep the Coffee and the Truth Flowing!
-Thank you to our subscribers for keeping things going-
Well documented criticism. What a mess! You’ve convinced me that these two ladies must go
DW
We just want the truth. And it is nowhere to be found ,as this Billion dollar agency, its executives, and board members run amok!
Thanks, David.
Dirk
Any chance this blaming game is just a way to deflect from the original problem?
And even if it was determined that this all started before Diane ever came to power, why not hold Diane accountable for letting the mess continue? Why couldn’t Diane have been the whistle blower? Not sure I care who started it, the next person who takes control should be accountable to fix it. Kudos to whomever brought this issue to light.
This was brought to light by the Oregonian. This a perfect example of the importance of local media. The did a very detailed in-depth investigation.
Typo in your email address HillsboroHerlad@gmail.com.
Otherwise a great message!
Three years ago I had a telephone interview for an administrative assistant position with Clean Water Services.
One of the questions posed to me was, “What would you do if you knew that one of the employees was reportedly working from home but you knew that they actually were not working at all?”
When I responded that I would report them to a supervisor, the interview was over.
I knew then and there I wasn’t going to get the job.