The Snohomish County employee who has been at the center of a hiring controversy will not personally appear before the County Council to answer questions today.
James Lee was hired as a temporary employee by the county March 1. While Lee’s job hasn’t been a high-profile position – he’s been tucked away doing research on various economic development issues, in an office on Wetmore Avenue several blocks from the county government campus – the amount he’s getting for that work has taken center stage.
Council members have been eager to talk to Lee since learning he’s being paid a $75,524 annual salary to work in a temporary position. Lee, a paid employee of Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon’s 2003 campaign, did not have to compete for the job and was hired after Reardon endorsed him for a nonadvertised position within county government.
Lee’s hiring, however, drew bipartisan interest last week.
Council members from both parties questioned Lee’s hiring, which happened before a hiring freeze hit Snohomish County government, and employees faced widespread talk of impending job cuts because of a 2005 budget deficit.
County Councilman Kirke Sievers asked managers in the county’s planning department last week to bring Lee to the council’s finance committee meeting today to answer questions about his work on economic development.
Sievers said he’s heard a strong reaction to news of Lee’s hiring from his constituents.
“Most of them were astonished that this sort of thing could happen in county government,” Sievers said.
County Council members also want to know how his work on economic development matters fits with the efforts of the Snohomish County Economic Development Council. The county contributes about $80,000 a year to the EDC to help the consortium promote job growth.
But Sievers said Monday that he’s been told Lee will not attend the meeting.
Deputy Executive Gary Weikel said it is the executive’s office’s call on who to send to give reports to the County Council. Usually it’s department directors.
Weikel said Craig Ladiser, director of the county’s planning department, will give today’s briefing to the County Council.
“We’re going to have a very good report on economic development,” Weikel said. That will include an explanation of the work Lee has been doing, as well as what the county hopes to do to promote job growth as part of the 2005 budget.
“All in all, it will be a better response to their questions,” Weikel said.
Lee’s supervisors have said he was hired not because of his connection to Reardon, but on the strength of his resume. Lee, 28, is a Harvard graduate.
Attempts to reach Lee have been unsuccessful, although he did leave a statement on a reporter’s telephone voice mail late Friday.
“I really strongly believe in Aaron Reardon’s vision for this county. And I’m just trying to do everything I can to bring economic opportunity here,” Lee said in the message.
“I believe in Aaron Reardon, as a person and as a leader, and this isn’t the first time I’ve seen him falsely attacked. …
“This is just partisan politics at its worst,” Lee continued. “And I’m really proud of my work for Snohomish County, and I’m proud to be part of the team.”
When contacted by a reporter Monday, Lee declined to answer questions about his job with the county, but offered to consider answering questions via e-mail sometime in the future.
Reporter Brian Kelly: 425-339-3422 or kelly@heraldnet.com.
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