Sheriff’s $21 beef with Franklin auditor is ridiculous. Here’s what needs to happen | Opinion

If Sheriff Jim Raymond and Auditor Matt Beaton could cut each other some slack and talk to each other like the professionals they are, the public would be spared yet another tiresome display of bickering in Franklin County.

But stubbornness has gotten in the way, and now Raymond has filed a $25,000 claim against the county just so he can prove he’s right and Beaton is wrong.

And what led to this extreme reaction?

A $21 dinner bill that Beaton said the sheriff owes the county.

The sheriff disagrees, of course. But instead of finding a way to work things out, a series of email exchanges show the sheriff made the situation worse by berating staff members in the auditor’s office.

We can appreciate the sheriff’s frustration in suddenly being told that the county system he has always used to cover travel expenses is no longer acceptable — especially since the forms were never updated to reflect the policy change from 2020.

But Raymond’s sardonic remarks to the auditing staff show a pattern of contempt for anyone who tries to get him to follow rules he doesn’t agree with — or that he doesn’t think apply to him.

There’s no need to disrespect employees who are simply doing their job.

Beaton said state law — RCW 42.24.115 — dictates the use of the county credit card. The county auditor has an obligation to follow the law, and Raymond, of all people, should know that.

But according to Beaton, “We have an elected official that has defamed and harassed staff from another elected official’s office” and it’s “concerning and inappropriate.”

Apparently, Mike Gonzalez, the new county administrator, tried to set up a meeting with Raymond to discuss the issue, but Raymond refused to show up.

That’s just being obstinate.

And it didn’t help Raymond’s position at all.

Eventually, the auditor’s office informed Raymond that the $21 will be taken out of his paycheck, and that’s when the sheriff decided to take his outrage to the next level.

He filed the claim for $25,000 against Beaton’s office and the county commissioners for obstructing the sheriff’s office and violating his civil rights.

Not only is this a petty and ridiculous move, it will be expensive. It will also be a time-waster for county employees who are already overworked.

In emails, Raymond said that the “Auditor’s Office is simply trying to control the Office of the Sheriff” and emphasized that the sheriff is an elected official — “not a book worm or a bean counter” and not subject to county policy.

“Let me be clear. I will not be controlled by the malicious actions, being undertaken by (rogue) out of control Franklin County Auditor. I work for the people of this county not other elected or their Agents. I think it’s time to start replacing our County Auditor,” Raymond wrote in an email.

Well, here’s the thing — both Beaton and Raymond were reelected last November. So, in all likelihood, the citizens of Franklin County have over three more years with these two in office.

At this point, we have to wonder how deep the rift between them will go, and how many trivial disputes the public will have to endure in the future.

As auditor, Beaton must make sure the county is following state laws and he is duty-bound to point out perceived procedural errors in all county departments — including the sheriff’s office.

But if there is some error in his department — like not updating a county form — finding a work-around and issuing an apology could go a long way in smoothing over hard feelings.

As for Raymond, he may answer to no one but the people of Franklin County, but that is no excuse for mistreating county employees with snide remarks and intimidation.

On that note, we predict that the longer this dispute goes on, the less public sympathy there will be for the sheriff.

And his department deserves better than that.

Raymond should drop the $25,000 claim and move on — this beef with Beaton is not worth putting the county through such chaos and expense.

This story was originally published June 28, 2023 at 12:30 PM.