As Election Day approaches across the country, many people are anticipating when their ballot will arrive so they can vote for their next public servants to hold office whether it be local, state or federal. However, for one Grays Harbor County race, the discussion of election integrity could rise to the forefront.
In documents obtained by The Daily World through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, an Election Interference (Cease and Desist and Demand) letter was sent to the city of Elma from Morgan Hill, a law firm representing Michael Catlett, who is running for Grays Harbor County Sheriff.
The letter, which was dated June 17, 2022, alleges Catlett discovered 19 law enforcement officers, including Elma Police Chief Susan Shultz, had used their public office to endorse Darrin Wallace, the current Chief Investigations Deputy who is also running for Grays Harbor County Sheriff. After coming to the belief that there was a “concerted effort to prevent him from being elected” Catlett set up an email account under the name “Harboree Family” and proceeded to email Shultz on May 29 directly to her city email account.
“I wanted to know if you, as the City of Elma Police Chief, are endorsing candidate Darrin Wallace for Sheriff of Grays Harbor County for the upcoming election?” the email operated by Catlett stated.
On May 30, Shultz responded to the Harboree Family email inquiry via her city email and stated, “As the Chief of Police for the city of Elma, I endorse candidate Darrin Wallace for the position of Sheriff for the county of Grays Harbor.” This email exchange prompted Catlett to retain an attorney to “protect his constitutional rights to be able to participate in a free and fair election.”
According to the documents, Catlett’s attorney, Jeffery M. Carr, claims Shultz violated the Revised Code of Washington by using her current office to endorse Wallace as well as violated the city of Elma’s Employee Handbook section 6.8 (Political Activity and Solicitations) which “prohibits the use of the City’s technology resources for political purposes, including partisan campaigning.”
Shulz declined to comment if she felt baited by Catlett’s hidden email, citing possible and pending litigation between the city and Catlett. According to the letter, Catlett has issued multiple demands including that Shultz ceases and desist her actions, the city of Elma require all political endorsements of Wallace by its employees be removed, and that Catlett be paid $100,000 for emotional and economic damages.
The city of Elma could not be reached for comment on where it currently stands concerning Catlett’s demands by press time.
This is not the first time Catlett has been at the center of a controversy. In 2016 city of Brier police officer Dan Anderson said he was fired by Catlett, who served as the Brier Chief of Police from 2014-2021, for responding to a Mukilteo shooting that left three teenagers dead and a fourth seriously injured.
On Aug. 23, 2022, Catlett filed a lawsuit against the city of Brier claiming an “uncomfortable, intolerable, inappropriate, and hostile workplace environment,” led to his resignation from the Brier Police Department in July 2021. According to Catlett’s complaint, he dealt with years of harassment by current City Clerk-Treasurer Paula Swisher ranging from sexual connotations, favoritism requests and using her position to “bully, harass, and intimidate him.”
An outside investigation conducted at the request of Catlett while he was the police chief found no evidence of Catlett’s numerous claims prompting the Brier city attorney, Mike Bolasina, to declare all the allegations were false and the city “will defend against the allegations in court.”
Catlett is still vying for the chance to be elected as the next Grays Harbor Sheriff and will face Wallace in the general election on Nov. 8. In the Aug. 2 primary election, Wallace won more than 71% of the vote. Catlett received just under 28% of the vote.
