So, Kevin Hulten must pay a nominal fine and pick up litter for a few days as a consequence of “tampering” with evidence in a criminal investigation. “Tampering” is a much kinder word than “destroying,” which is what he actually did. And this will surely be the only court appearance for either Hulten or Aaron Reardon.
This slap on the wrist administered in the name “justice” is a slap in the face to all who suffered harassment and abuse at his hands. Reardon won’t be held accountable for his part in the affair, and whatever fines may be charged to the two by the state Public Disclosure Commission will be little more than an inconvenience.
Missing from this story is the fact that Hulten didn’t spring into being in Reardon’s office. He was employed by Sen. Steve Hobbs in 2006 and 2010 to do just what he was hired by Reardon to do in 2011. From anonymous website attacks to emails from pseudonymous superheroes and fictitious entities, the trademark was the same in Hobbs’ two races against Lillian Kaufer.
If anyone thinks Kevin has learned any lessons from this experience, visit his website (http://www.hul10.com) and read “Open Data Case Study”; “Building an Aerospace Workforce … From Scratch”; “From Roadkill to Power Brokers,”; “Landing A Local University” and “From Bill Draft to Passing the Renewable Energy Act.” Without addressing what role he may or may not have played in any of these matters, or whether any of them actually came about as he described, I will point out that he bills himself as a consultant who takes full credit for all achievements, real or imagined. Reardon and Hobbs get not a shred of credit.
Some may call this justice, but not me. A coward who uses Hide My @$$.com to do his dirty work does not deserve a pass when accountability time rolls around.
Jackie Minchew
Everett
