First, appoint special prosecutor

Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon and his political cronies have been “too clever by half” (and probably a lot more than half) this time. As an attorney since 1966 in California and 1994 in Washington, it is my legal opinion that they have committed the “4 Cs” (crimes, conspiracies, corruption, and cronyism.) They need to be “brought to justice” by public officials with the legal authority and the political will to do so, including, but not limited to the following:

(1) The appointment of a special prosecutor (with participation of the county grand jury, if it is not been similarly corrupted with political cronies) with subpoena power and authority to put people under oath for testimony;

(2) If crimes have been committed, perpetrators must be charged, tried, convicted, and put in jail. Wrist slaps and fines on the banksters on Wall Street have not worked to deter future misbehavior and crimes. This time we need real action;

(3) The media must keep up its publicity and pressure to excise this cancer from our political system. Sunlight (widespread publicity) and disclosure of the truth are the ultimate solutions to these problems.

I commend the excellent investigative journalism done by your two Herald writers, Scott North and Noah Haglund, and urge them to keep digging for the “whole truth.” Until these cancers are removed from our democratic system, good, honest people will not seek nor hold political office.

John Flowers

Everett