‘W Howard’ a man of many screen names, Jedi master?

  • By Rikki King
  • Wednesday, May 25, 2011 1:22pm
  • Local News

Turns out traffic-enforcement camera exec Bill Kroske didn’t have a soft spot for Snohomish County. He does, however, appear to be a Star Wars fan.

The revelations come courtesy of The Spokesman-R

eview in Spokane. When they checked their website, they determined the Scottsdale, Ariz., man appears to have posed as a local there, too, posting comments in support of his company’s camera enforcement program in the Lilac City.

Kroske is vice president of business development at American Traffic Solutions, Inc. The Arizona company said Kroske was indefinitely suspended after we wrote about him last week, exposing him as “W Howard” a big backer of traffic cameras in Lynnwood, which contracts with ATS for the service.

On Heraldnet, Kroske never revealed his connection to ATS but in his comments claimed he lived in Lynnwood, or maybe Everett. He urged people in Monroe not to act like “backwoods” Mukilteo and seek anti-camera initiatives like those being sought by Tim Eyman.

Now, The Spokesman-Review reports on its Sirens and Gavels blog that we in Snohomish County weren’t so special after all.Their online commenting records show that Kroske also appears to have hit their site, this time using the screen name “Obie1.” We think you say that “Obi-Wan,” like Obi-Wan Kenobi, the Jedi master from the Star Wars films.

In the Spokane comments, Kroske attacked those who oppose traffic cameras. Here’s a short bit of the Sirens and Gavels post:

In 2010, from January through July, Kroske posted nine comments on The Spokesman-Review’s website under the name Obie1, which is registered to his email at American Traffic Solutions.
In his posts, all of which touched on red-light cameras, he wrote as if he lived in Spokane. He refers to critics as the “camera paranoia group” and suggests they start a campaign to get rid of the cameras “by no one running red lights so no money for the city.”

You can read the whole thing here.

Of course, this all raises a question: In just how many places was Kroske pretending to be a local?

The Bellingham Herald checked after our story last week and found posts from Kroske, but none they felt had him passing himself off as a local. They also obtained Kroske’s emails to Bellingham officials about the traffic camera contract in that town. Among other things, they found a willingness on the camera company’s part to challenge in court any attempt by voters in that community to weigh in on the future of cameras there.

Sound familiar?

Talk to us

More in Local News

Everett
Cat killed, 9 people displaced after duplex fire in Everett

None of the people were injured in the fire reported around 1:15 a.m. in the 11500 block of Meridian Avenue S.

Brian Henrichs, left, and Emily Howe, right, begin sifting out the bugs from their bug trap along Port Susan on Monday, May 22, 2023 in Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘A delta for the future’: Scientists try to save salmon at Stilly’s mouth

The Stillaguamish River’s south fork once supported 20,000 salmon. In 2019, fewer than 500 fish returned to spawn.

Mountlake Terrace Library, part of the Sno-Isle Libraries, in Mountlake Terrace, Washington on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Sno-Isle workers cite safety, unfilled positions in union push

Workers also pointed to inconsistent policies and a lack of a say in decision-making. Leadership says they’ve been listening.

A view over the Port of Everett Marina looking toward the southern Whidbey Island fault zone in March 2021. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County agencies to simulate major disaster

The scenario will practice the response to an earthquake or tsunami. Dozens of agencies will work with pilots.

A few weeks before what could be her final professional UFC fight, Miranda Granger grimaces as she pushes a 45-pound plate up her driveway on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, in Lake Stevens, Washington. Her daughter Austin, age 11 months, is strapped to her back. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Daily Herald staff wins 5 honors at annual journalism competition

The Herald got one first-place win and four runner-up spots in SPJ’s Northwest Excellence in Journalism contest.

Panelists from different areas of mental health care speak at the Herald Forum about mental health care on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
At panel, mental health experts brainstorm answers to staff shortages

Workforce shortages, insurance coverage and crisis response were in focus at the Snohomish forum hosted by The Daily Herald.

Kamiak High School is pictured Friday, July 8, 2022, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Kamiak football coach fired amid sexual misconduct investigation

Police believe Julian Willis, 34, sexually abused the student in portable classrooms on Kamiak High School’s campus.

Compass Health’s building on Broadway in Everett. (Sue Misao / The Herald)
Compass class teaches first aid — for mental health

A one-day course hosted in Snohomish County is designed to triage behavioral health challenges: “This gave me many more tools.”

The Wilderness Land Trust transferred a 354-acre property straddling the Wild Sky and Henry M. Jackson Wilderness Areas to public ownership, adding it to the designated wilderness areas. (The Wilderness Land Trust)
Wild Sky Wilderness grows 345 acres, as transfer chips at private land

The Wilderness Land Trust announced it had completed a transfer near Silvertip Peak to the U.S. Forest Service.

Most Read