Hubris (noun). Extreme haughtiness, pride or arrogance. Hubris often indicates a loss of contact with reality and an overestimation of one’s own competence or capabilities, especially when the person exhibiting it is in a position of power.
It’s a description that applies all too well to Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon. Recent revelations that he repeatedly used taxpayer resources last year to campaign for his third term in office show a recklessness that only hubris can explain.
Inflated egos are common among leaders in politics, business, the military or any number of other realms. It’s part of the fuel that helps them take on tough challenges. But Reardon’s behavior suggests a delusional belief that he was above election laws, and/or was somehow insulated from being caught.
Most politicians in Washington have a thorough understanding of state election laws, and follow them scrupulously. Incumbents know that they’re forbidden from using their office telephone or government-issued cell phone to solicit contributions or plot campaign strategy. They go to a private office, or their home, for such activity — even if it’s just for one brief call.
Reardon, a savvy politician who served in the state House and Senate before becoming county executive, is well familiar with such laws. Yet, as the reporting of Herald writers Scott North and Noah Haglund makes clear, he flouted them on a regular basis. He could face steep fines from the Public Disclosure Commission.
Allegations from county employee Tamara Dutton that Reardon spent public money on an extramarital affair with her is an apparent focus of a Washington State Patrol investigation. Like anyone under investigation, Reardon is presumed innocent unless and until proven otherwise. He is entitled not to talk about a case that could lead to criminal charges.
But given his high position of leadership, he owes an explanation of his campaign behavior to the public he serves — a public that re-elected him in November. He needs to show that he didn’t violate election laws, or come clean and seek the public’s forgiveness.
The latter wouldn’t come easily. In our lukewarm endorsement of Reardon’s re-election against state Rep. Mike Hope, a candidate with no administrative experience, we noted Reardon’s unwillingness to accept responsibility for mismanagement that had occurred in his office. Stubbornness, after all, is one symptom of hubris.
But allowing this mess to drag on indefinitely is unacceptable. County government appears to be functioning well for the moment, but that could change if this dark cloud lingers.
If Reardon is to remain in office, he must come clean and explain his behavior. Snohomish County citizens, and employees, need to have confidence in their leaders. Right now, confidence in Reardon is near zero.
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