County officials get little feedback on job performance

In the five years before his career as Snohomish County planning director ended in drunken embarrassment, Craig Ladiser received no written evaluations.

And for roughly the same length of time, Mark Knudsen, the man responsible for investigating harassment complaints in Ladiser’s department and other county workplaces, also received no formal, written feedback.

Knudsen quit his job as the county’s harassment investigator early last week. That came just days before an independent investigator’s report was made public, showing that Knudsen’s harassment investigation records were a shambles. Among other things, the audit found Knudsen had documented his decisions with written reports in just 32 of 126 cases. In seven cases, no records could be found at all, the report said.

On Friday, Deputy County Executive Mark Soine sent a letter to all county staff saying he was to blame for failing to do a better job monitoring Knudsen and his paperwork.

Soine made no mention of his decision, year after year, not to prepare performance evaluations for Knudsen, or to require similar reviews for Ladiser. An attorney, Soine is the chief administrative officer under County Executive Aaron Reardon.

Written performance reviews are just smart business, experts say, particularly in government.

“Yes, you absolutely need written evaluations,” said Jane Reynolds, a lecturer with the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business. “In court, you don’t want to go in there and say, ‘Sure, I did an evaluation. Sure, I did.”

Ideally, any business should give employees feedback every quarter, Reynolds said. Year-end reviews are the bare minimum, she said.

At Snohomish County, Ladiser had no written evaluation on file since Reardon hired him to lead the planning department in 2004, a public-records request showed. He was fired from his job in August after exposing his genitals to a woman at a golf tournament.

The most recent written feedback for Knudsen came in May 2005 when Soine’s predecessor, Gary Weikel, prepared an evaluation. Weikel also conducted a performance review in 2004. He gave Knudsen high marks, but also set for Knudsen a performance target of completing harassment investigations within 90 days.

Knudsen investigated several sexual-harassment complaints brought by employees in Ladiser’s planning department but decided that no corrective action was warranted.

After Weikel was reassigned by Reardon, then retired, Knudsen’s supervision transferred to Soine. The deputy executive said he met with Knudsen twice every month, but found no “red flags.”

The executive’s office said it could find no record of Soine conducting a written evaluation of Knudsen’s work.

“Procedure is to conduct weekly management reviews of our directors,” said Brian Parry, one of Reardon’s executive directors. “Directors are accountable for meeting department work plans, budgeted elements and other projects as assigned throughout the year by the Executive and (the County) Council.”

The performance of county directors is reviewed in weekly cabinet meetings and one-one-one discussions, Parry said.

In addition, Parry said, Reardon makes use of a computer program called SnoStat that tracks performance measures for departments, such as how quickly building permits are issued, or how many people use county parks. The results are posted on the county’s public Web site.

SnoStat did not track sexual harassment complaints, or how quickly cases were investigated. That information was developed by Linda Walton, a Seattle labor attorney the county paid $12,000 to conduct an audit of Knudsen’s files. She found that it often took the county’s harassment investigator several months, sometimes even years, to get back to employees on their complaints. She’s recommended that the county shoot for results in 60 days.

Vandra Huber, professor of human resources at the UW’s Foster School, said research shows that organizations often do a poor job of evaluating their upper ranks and holding people accountable.

“It’s sort of a do-as-I-say, not a do-as-I-do philosophy,” Huber said. “The sad part of that is that if the top does it, then the bottom does it.”

Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465, nhaglund@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Alina Langbehn, 6, center, and Vera A., 6, right, sit on a swing together at Drew Nielsen Neighborhood Park after school on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council votes to renovate Drew Nielsen Park

Construction on the $345,000 upgrade could start as early as this fall.

Northshore School District bus driver Stewart O’Leary pictured next to his buses shattered drivers side windshield on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Put me in, coach’: Bus driver back at work after struck by metal bar

Stewart O’Leary, a Northshore employee, has received national attention for his composure during a frightening bus trip.

Lynnwood councilor Joshua Binda speaks during a Lynnwood City Council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Does the Lynnwood Council VP live in Lynnwood? It’s hard to say.

Josh Binda’s residency has been called into question following an eviction and FEC filings listing an Everett address. He insists he lives in Lynnwood.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

An American Robin picks a berry from a holly tree on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Calling all birders for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count

The Audubon Society will hold its 28th annual Great Backyard… Continue reading

A view of one of the potential locations of the new Aquasox stadium on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. The site sits between Hewitt Avenue, Broadway, Pacific Avenue and the railroad. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Initial prep work for AquaSox stadium to start, with $200k price tag

The temporary agreement allows some surveying and design work as the city negotiates contracts with designers and builders.

Aaron Kennedy / The Herald
The Joann Fabric and Crafts store at 7601 Evergreen Way, Everett, is one of three stores in Snohomish County that will close as part of the retailer’s larger plan to shutter more than half of its stores nationwide.
Joann store closure plan includes Everett, Arlington, Lynnwood locations

The retail giant filed a motion in court to close approximately 500 stores in the U.S.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.