HomeMy WebLinkAbout081726 email - RE_ Jefferson County Canvassing Board - no remote access to meetingMr. Thiersch:
I am looking at your emails and will provide advice via attorney-client communication to Elections tomorrow morning.
Philip
pronouns: he/him/his
Philip C. Hunsucker
Chief Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney
Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
P.O. Box 1220, Port Townsend, WA 98368
Ph: 360-385-9219 (direct)
All e-mail sent to this address has been received by the Jefferson County e-mail system and is therefore subject to the Public Records Act, a state law found at RCW 42.56. Under the
Public Records law the County must release this e-mail and its contents to any person who asks to obtain a copy (or for inspection) of this e-mail unless it is also exempt from production
to the requester according to state law, including RCW 42.56 and other state laws.
From: Tom Thiersch <tprosys@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, August 17, 2026 5:26 PM
To: Brenda Huntingford <BHuntingford@co.jefferson.wa.us>; jeffbocc <jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us>
Cc: elections <elections@co.jefferson.wa.us>; Philip Hunsucker <PHunsucker@co.jefferson.wa.us>
Subject: RE: Jefferson County Canvassing Board - no remote access to meeting
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Thank you, Brenda, for your reply.
Please note BoCC Resolution 50-52. That resolution explicitly includes “Canvassing Board” in the list of boards and committees to which the resolution applies (page 5) and which are
subject to the OPMA.
1. How do I see the “Camera view”?
2. How do I remotely provide oral Public Comment, as listed on the meeting agenda? A view-only camera will not meet that requirement.
The fact that remote attendance has not been a part of your process in the past does not justify the absence of interactive remote facilities now.
The legislature has made it abundantly clear that remote participation is essential; Jefferson County has done a good job in that respect, but with some notable exceptions.
The legislature further finds people participating in their government, especially through public comment, is an essential part of developing public policy. The legislature finds that
there are numerous developing technologies that can be used to facilitate public comment, especially for those with disabilities, underserved communities, and those who face time or
distance challenges when traveling to public meetings. Therefore, the legislature intends to encourage public agencies to make use of remote access tools as fully as practicable to
encourage public engagement and better serve their communities." [ 2022 c 115 s 1 <https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2021-22/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Laws/House/1329-S.SL.pdf?cite=2022%20c%20115%20
s%201> .]
I suppose you can use as an excuse that remote participation is not mandatory, but to ignore the intent of the legislature is not a good look.
Tom Thiersch
PS: What other counties do is not relevant; if they choose to violate or ignore the intent of the OPMA, that’s a matter for another day. My immediate concern is for the meetings in this
county.
From: Brenda Huntingford <BHuntingford@co.jefferson.wa.us <mailto:BHuntingford@co.jefferson.wa.us> >
Sent: Monday, August 17, 2026 4:40 PM
To: Tom Thiersch <tprosys@gmail.com <mailto:tprosys@gmail.com> >; jeffbocc <jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us <mailto:jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us> >
Cc: elections <elections@co.jefferson.wa.us <mailto:elections@co.jefferson.wa.us> >
Subject: RE: Jefferson County Canvassing Board - no remote access to meeting
Hi Tom,
Thank you for reaching out and sharing your concern regarding remote access to the August 18, 2026, Jefferson County Canvassing Board meeting.
All Canvassing Board meetings are open to the public and may be attended in person. A camera view is also provided so the public can observe the meeting remotely. However, remote participation
is not offered for Jefferson County Canvassing Board meetings and has not been part of our process in the past.
I also reviewed practices in a few other counties, and it appears that remote participation is generally not provided for their Canvassing Board meetings either.
Please let me know if you have any further questions.
Best regards,
From: Tom Thiersch <tprosys@gmail.com <mailto:tprosys@gmail.com> >
Sent: Monday, August 17, 2026 11:57 AM
To: jeffbocc <jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us <mailto:jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us> >
Cc: Brenda Huntingford <BHuntingford@co.jefferson.wa.us <mailto:BHuntingford@co.jefferson.wa.us> >
Subject: Jefferson County Canvassing Board - no remote access to meeting
ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
Commissioners,
The agenda ( https://co.jefferson.wa.us/DocumentCenter/View/25299/2026-Aug-Certification-Agenda?bidId= )
posted for the August 18, 2026, meeting of the Jefferson County Canvassing Board does not include a remote access option; i.e., as posted, the meeting is only open for in-person attendance
by the public.
The lack of remote access would seem to be a violation of both the OPMA and county policy regarding meetings of committees.
Please provide remote access and amend the county calendar accordingly.
Thank you,
Tom Thiersch
Member, Washington Coalition for Open Government <https://www.washcog.org/>
==== [RCW 42.30.010 Open Public Meetings Act <https://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=42.30&full=true> ] ==== ==== [RCW 42.56.030 Public Records Act <https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?ci
te=42.56&full=true> ] ====
"The people of this state do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies that serve them. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what
is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know. The people insist on remaining informed and informing the people's public servants of their views so that they
may maintain control over the instruments that they have created."
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