"bully" vs Bureaucracy

Saint Helens, OR – August 27, 2025

As Columbia County Commissioner, I am committed to serving our residents with integrity, transparency, and fiscal responsibility. I was surprised and disappointed by the county's recent press release regarding a workplace investigation, which was issued without my knowledge or input as an elected member of the Board of County Commissioners.

Any allegations of misconduct are untrue, and the investigation's findings mischaracterize my efforts to ensure accountable management of county resources. The process lacked fundamental fairness, including the failure to interview key witnesses I suggested and denying me an opportunity to provide a formal rebuttal. Moreover, the resulting restrictions on my communication with county departments unconstitutionally interfere with my elected duties to oversee operations and advocate for taxpayers.

These actions violate my First Amendment rights as an elected official to speak on matters of public concern, such as efficient use of public funds.

Columbia County deserves open dialogue and collaborative governance, not efforts to silence dissent. I call on my fellow commissioners to prioritize transparency by releasing the full, unredacted investigation report so residents can judge the information for themselves. In the meantime, I remain focused on delivering results for our community, including advocating for delivering core services,  cost-effective projects and emergency preparedness.

For questions, please contact me at casey.garrett@columbiacounty.gov, or 503-396-1944 Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely, 

Casey Garrett

Columbia County Commissioner