HomeMy WebLinkAbout022625 email - Recent Sheriff AppointmentALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
Dear County Commissioners,
As a voting member of the East Jefferson county constituency, I am writing out of concern for the actions taken on Monday by the county commissioners in the appointment of Andy Pernsteiner
to the role of sheriff over Art Frank. I had hoped to see this elected body do something brave that the voters were not able to do in the last election for the office.
I personally witnessed Joe Nole dodge questions about the concerns for Black and Brown students in the Port Townsend school district meeting to an audience of concerned parents and community
members of all identities. It was appalling. I’m sure there are many other such examples. I’ve been made aware that the commissioners understand there is a need for change. Toward that
end, it seemed that Art Frank was the clear choice in that direction.
As a person of African descent with a deep interest in creating opportunities to thrive for people with social identities that have been and continue to be marginalized in this community,
Art Frank feels like the best choice. Granted, I do not have any first-hand experience with Mr. Pernsteiner, but given he was in a leadership role in the summer of 2023, when Peter
Mustin of Woodbridge Farm was unfairly treated by deputies in a dispute with a lessee on his land that ended with Judge Mack ruling in favor of Mr. Mustin. I mention it because the
sheriff’s department was called out frequently during that period of time and consistently showed deference to the lessee who was of European descent and was also in violation of his
lease over the complaints of the landowner, of African descent. The situation was so consistently biased that the NAACP was contacted and acknowledged a pattern of racial profiling
in the Western rural counties.
On the other hand, Art Frank’s presence when situations at Woodbridge Farm were heated was effectively calming and balanced. My experience with Mr. Frank beyond that unfortunate circumstance,
has been that he is consistently genuinely eager to support the wellbeing of racialized people in other aspects of the community. This leads me to believe that that care and concern
would carry over into his role as sheriff.
Particularly, in these current times when so many people who have been historically underprivileged are feeling abandoned, attacked, and vulnerable by the federal government, it seems
that it is the task now of local governments to be fearless protectors of all its citizenry, particularly the most vulnerable. The choice of Art Frank would have been a step in that
direction. Instead you made the easy choice by anointing the presumed successor to a department that has a less than stellar track record with racialized constituents of which I am
a part.
I do not feel more safe now, and I am anxious for other members of my BIPOC community. That is the effect of your decision yesterday to appoint Andy Pernsteiner.
Sincerely,
Oceana Sawyer
Port Townsend