Russ Hauge has spent the last 20 years building a top heavy organization with many managers who are some of the County’s top paid employees. I am a long-time public employee. As a public servant, one of my greatest responsibilities is to be ever-mindful of taxpayers’ dollars.

Responsive documents to a recent public disclosure request to the Kitsap County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office reveal surprising numbers, and illustrate rapid growth in mid-management positions within the county office.

Currently, under Prosecutor Hauge, the tax-payer funded agency has a total of 40 deputy prosecutors, seniors and chiefs throughout three divisions: Criminal (including Sexual Assault Unit), Juvenile, and Civil (including Child Support Enforcement Division).

Of the 40 county attorneys, 12 are titled “senior deputies” with a pay range of $104,291.20 to $114,982.40. Four others, titled “chief deputy”, receive an annual salary of $126,713.60. The elected official receives $151,809. Seventeen seniors, chiefs and the elected official presumably would supervise, or have supervisory duties over the remaining 23 deputy prosecuting attorneys.

A search of the Public Disclosure Commission records for local campaigns as of Oct. 18, 2014, shows the names and amounts contributed to Prosecutor Hauge’s campaign. It is interesting to note that many of those same seniors and chiefs have contributed thousands of dollars to Prosecutor Hauge’s campaign. Even the non-attorney, office manager, who is paid just shy of six figures, contributed hundreds to his campaign.

One wonders why an office of only 40 attorneys garners 16 supervisors and/or leads? My vote for prosecutor will go to Tina Robinson.

Debra Trudeau
Manchester