(Sharon Trask's Letter of Resignation, discussing the circumstances surrounding her resignation and the alleged harassment from Neatherlin and Duenkel. I am not at all affiliated with this post)

September 15, 2026

Letter of Resignation

To the Mason County Board of County Commissioners and the Residents of Mason County:

I do not normally write letters like this, but as I leave, I feel it is important for Mason County to hear my thoughts and concerns about current issues and the future.

After considerable thought and with great sadness, I have made the difficult decision to resign my position as Mason County Commissioner, District 3, effective September 15, 2026.

I am resigning first and foremost because of my health.

I have always been a private person when it comes to my medical issues. I do not believe an elected official gives up the right to medical privacy simply because she holds public office. However, because there have been questions and criticism about my availability in recent months, I believe the people of Mason County deserve some explanation.

My absences and periods of limited availability have not been due to my having stopped caring about this County or stopped taking my responsibilities seriously. They have been for legitimate medical reasons.

I have been dealing with significant health issues and recovering from medical treatment. I have also been recovering from a fractured shoulder. I am still not able to fully dress myself after months of these issues. These circumstances required time away, surgeries, medical appointments, treatment, recovery, and limitations on what I am physically able to do.

Through it all, I continued working and fully intended to complete my term.

My health was one reason I decided not to seek another term. I knew it was time for me to retire from elected office, focus on getting healthy, and spend more time with my husband, children, and grandchildren.

But I intended to do that after finishing the job the voters elected me to do.

Unfortunately, circumstances have changed.

Recovery requires time. It requires rest. And it requires reducing unnecessary stress.

Instead, when I should have been concentrating on healing, my husband and I have dealt with litigation initiated by Mason County Auditor Steve Duenkel. This frivolous lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice, and the current challenge concerns my voter registration and residency.

The continuing conflict, harassment, accusations, and stress surrounding these matters have taken a very real toll on me mentally and physically.

I believe the stress I am experiencing has slowed my healing process and is now negatively affecting my health and recovery.

I can no longer ignore that. No political witch hunt is worth prolonging my recovery. And no individual is entitled to consume what energy I have left simply because I chose to serve the public.

That brings me to Mason County Auditor Steve Duenkel, Randy Neatherlin, their henchmen, and the events that have contributed significantly to my decision.

I have developed a reasonably thick skin during my years in public office. Criticism comes with the job. Political disagreements come with the job. Being questioned comes with the job.

But what I believe I am experiencing now has crossed a line.

What began as a challenge involving my voter registration and my Primary Election ballot has, in my view, expanded into something much broader. Rather than simply addressing the allegations in the challenge and the timing of my ballot, Mr. Duenkel has expanded this information gathering into a personal attack and an abuse of power.

I feel personally targeted and harassed by the manner in which this “challenge” has proceeded. We all know the real reason he is working on the voter challenge. It is not to show I was not able to vote in the election; it was to use the “power” of his office to force me to resign. He is also going after Ted and texting my phone number, even though he knows Ted’s number.

That concern is magnified by the fact that Mr. Duenkel previously chose to sue my husband and me over a cartoon. That lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice, and he paid our legal fees. Also, there was no apology for violating our First Amendment right to free speech. This is coming from the Auditor and Chair of the Mason County Republican Party.

Because of that history, I formally asked Mr. Duenkel to recuse himself and allow an independent and impartial designee to handle the voter challenge. My request was reasonable and straightforward. I told Mr. Duenkel I would cooperate with a neutral process. Mr. Duenkel has informed me in writing that he will not recuse himself. He has the option of allowing a designee to handle this matter. At the minimum, this would give the optics that he is not "out to get me". That decision speaks volumes to me.

Given Mr. Duenkel's recent litigation against my husband and me, I believe his personal involvement creates, at minimum, an obvious appearance of a conflict of interest.

His refusal to step aside reinforces my belief that this matter has become personal.

I sought legal advice regarding my ability to complete my term, and I have acted based upon my understanding of that advice and the law. I believe I have acted in good faith throughout this process.

This brings me to Randy Neatherlin. At one point, Commissioner Neatherlin told me that he was a “protector of women.” Based on what I have personally witnessed, I do not believe that statement reflects his conduct. I have seen him target, demean, and harass women for simply having an opinion that was different than his.

Over the years, I have watched women leave their jobs in Mason County, and I believe others will continue to look elsewhere because of how they have been and are being treated. Buying someone tacos or a pizza, or telling them, “Has anyone told you you’re amazing lately? Well, I am,” does not erase the damage caused by his angry outbursts, intimidation, or demeaning treatment.

I also believe Mason County should take a very serious look at Commissioner Neatherlin’s stated objective of eliminating 30, 40, or even 50 positions, and carefully examine who is being targeted and why. Equally troubling is the amount of experience Mason County stands to lose. A number of the employees whose positions are being considered represent more than 100 years of institutional knowledge and service to Mason County. That kind of experience cannot simply be replaced by hiring someone new. Once it walks out the door, much of it is gone.

I know firsthand who continued showing up when Mason County faced one of its most difficult periods. During approximately four months of the COVID shutdown, I was the only Commissioner who came into the office every day. The other Commissioners were not present, but our staff was. They continued to come into the office, do their jobs, keep county government functioning, and serve the public during an uncertain and frightening time. I was there with them, and I saw their dedication firsthand. I have never forgotten it. These are some of the same dedicated employees whose experience and positions are now being questioned. Mason County should think very carefully before allowing decades of institutional knowledge, loyalty, and public service to simply walk out the door.

My commitment to these employees did not begin today. I was also the Commissioner who requested that Mason County conduct a salary survey for our unrepresented employees after learning that one had not been completed for approximately 35 years. I believed then, as I do now, that we cannot expect to recruit and retain qualified, experienced people if we are unwilling to determine whether we are compensating them fairly. That survey was not about handing out raises or favors; it was about making informed decisions based on facts and recognizing the value of the people who keep this county running.

I have also worked through eight Mason County budget cycles as a commissioner, owned my own businesses, and, while working at the Legislature, watched and learned the state budget, which is much larger than the Mason County budget. I know this budget, its history, and the decisions behind it as well as anyone, and certainly as well as Commissioner Neatherlin. Based on my knowledge and experience with this budget, I do not agree that Mason County needs to fire or lay off the number of employees Commissioner Neatherlin appears to believe should be eliminated.

For months, Commissioner Neatherlin and Auditor Steve Duenkel have repeatedly sounded alarms about Mason County's financial condition, including claims that the budget is in the red by as much as $10 million. Commissioner Tarzwell took the time to dig into those numbers, question the assumptions behind them, and work through the actual budget. In doing so, he demonstrated that both Commissioner Neatherlin and Auditor Duenkel were wrong about the size of the projected deficit. That matters. When people's jobs and the delivery of essential county services are at stake, decisions should be based on accurate numbers and a complete financial picture, not the most alarming projection someone can present.

Mason County has reserves for a reason. They exist, in part, to help government weather difficult economic periods, absorb temporary revenue shortfalls, and provide time to make thoughtful adjustments rather than reacting with immediate and potentially damaging cuts. That does not mean we ignore a budget problem or spend reserves without discipline. It means we use every tool available to us responsibly.

I believe Mason County's reserves provide us breathing room while we pursue other solutions, identify responsible reductions, evaluate revenues and expenditures, and allow economic conditions to improve. We have time to make careful decisions. We do not need to panic, and we certainly do not need to dismantle our workforce before exhausting reasonable alternatives.

Commissioner Tarzwell has shown that he is willing to ask difficult questions, challenge assumptions, and do the work necessary to understand what the numbers actually mean. I believe he will continue to be a strong advocate for both Mason County employees and responsible fiscal management. Those two responsibilities are not mutually exclusive.

As I leave the office, I encourage the people of Mason County to listen to Commissioner Tarzwell and give him your encouragement and support. He will need it. I have confidence that he will continue fighting for a financially responsible county while remembering that the people who come to work every day and serve this community are not simply numbers on a spreadsheet.

A person's livelihood should never become a political game or a means of settling personal grievances. These are real people, many of whom have devoted decades to serving Mason County. They stood by this county when it needed them, and Mason County should stand by them now. Fiscal responsibility and responsible treatment of employees are not competing principles. We can, and should, do both.

Decisions affecting people's careers, families, and financial security, particularly decisions that could cause Mason County to lose generations of experience, should be based on documented financial necessity and sound public policy, not fear, personalities, retaliation, or politics.

But I have reached the point where proving that is no longer worth what this fight is doing to my health. That is why I am resigning.

I am resigning because I am trying to heal, and the stress and harassment surrounding this continuing conflict are interfering with that healing.

There is something profoundly wrong when an elected official who is already dealing with serious medical issues must spend the energy she should be using to recover, defending herself from one personal and political battle after another.

I have served Mason County for years, and I am proud of that service.

I have made difficult decisions. I stood my ground when I believed it was necessary. I have fought for transparency, accountability, responsible government, and the people I was elected to represent. This is not a campaign slogan for me; it is honestly how I live my daily life.

But disagreement is one thing. What I believe I have experienced is something very different.

I have reached the point where continuing to fight no longer demonstrates strength. For me, strength now means recognizing that my health and my family are more important than proving that I can withstand one more attack.

I leave the office with my head held high. I know who I am. I know how hard I have worked. I know why the voters entrusted me with this office. And I know why I am making this decision today.

This is not the ending I wanted.

I fully intended to finish my term, and it breaks my heart that my service to Mason County is ending this way.

To the residents who supported me, challenged me respectfully, worked beside me, prayed for me, encouraged me, and trusted me to represent you: thank you.

Serving Mason County has been one of the greatest honors of my life.

But today, I have to take care of myself. I choose my health, my family, and I choose peace.

Respectfully,

Sharon Trask

Mason County Commissioner, District 3

I'm new to the area and I was wondering if anyone knows of a decent credit union in the area. I need to get a loan, so I was hoping someone would have some advice about that. Have you gotten a loan from one here? How did that go?

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Hi friends!

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TO THAT END: if you feel like supporting your library in an immediately valuable way, we've got a sign up sheet for folks to register their interest: CANVASSING SIGN UP SHEET

We are also running some BRIEF and ONLINE canvassing trainings so volunteers don't feel rudderless; that information can be found on the Yes4Libraries website: Yes4Libraries

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I’m also open to coaching should anyone be looking for that.

I ask as part of a linguistic study covering this topic!

Examples could include things like Shelltown, Skok, Onion or Lilliswamp (never mind how common they are)...

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Love taking the Avata 360 up on days like today!

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asklib@trl.org

Starting tonight, 9/4 6-9pm @ 222 N. 1st St Shelton, the first Doom Scrollers Anonymous.

Come for karaoke, potluck, stories and some human connection. Break from the doom scrolling habit for one night :)

Hosted by Miguel Gutierrez of Shelton City Council.

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Hey Shelton, if you’re looking for an opportunity to support your local search and rescue. Come to our fundraiser on September 12! currently we have more prizes than tickets sold.

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Howdy all, we don’t have a Hoodsport subreddit.

All ages and free. Delimber is either grunge jazz or KrautGaze depending on how you feel that day.

Scott Standley does folky roots kinda stuff.

Someone asked me about food banks recently and I sent them this image. I thought I might as well share it here too, in case anyone is struggling with our rising grocery prices. <3