The group trying to form a Whidbey-based power company lost its communications director Sunday after he accused his organization’s leader of secretly being on the payroll of a trade group that promotes public utility districts.
Ed Jenkins, who had has been the spokesman for “People for Yes On Whidbey PUD,” sent out a press release Saturday claiming that volunteers were mislead and that Dave Metheny, the campaign director for “People for Yes,” was a paid employee of the Washington Public Utilities District Association.
“People for Yes” is the group leading the effort to create a Whidbey Island-based public utility district that would take over the service territory of Puget Sound Energy, a Bellevue-based utility that supplies electricity to Whidbey and 1 million customers throughout Washington.
Jenkins said Metheny claimed to be running a grassroots campaign, but said he was actually an employee of the association and “secretly on their payroll.”
“Apparently he entered into an agreement with WPUDA very early on to push their agenda and a PUD for Whidbey Island,” Jenkins said in a news release sent to the media on Aug. 23.
“When WPUDA realized they had to report his salary to the PDC (Washington Public Disclosure Commission) only then was it was revealed to the board. When I personally found out I immediately wanted to reveal this but was pressured by Steve Johnson, executive director of WPUDA not to. Finally other issues convinced me that I must tell the truth,” Jenkins continued.
Jenkins also apologized for misleading the public, and said the goal to create a Whidbey utility was a worthy one.
“I apologize to the people of Whidbey Island that in my capacity as director of communications I unknowingly presenting this campaign in a manner that turned out not to be totally true. I must stress that every other member and volunteer of our campaign is participating for, I believe for unselfish reasons and as grassroots volunteers.
“I categorically state that I have great respect for every other person involved with this campaign. I believe that Dave Metheny was the only paid person involved. I must say that I do not think it was illegal to do this only unethical and certainly not smart not tell the rest of the volunteers,” Jenkins said. “I hope that the people of Whidbey Island will not change their view that a Whidbey PUD is essential and the right decision for our island and the campaign is continuing on.”
Whidbey PUD supporters issued a news release today that said Jenkins was no longer with the campaign.
“Ed Jenkins is no longer the communications director for ‘People for Yes’ on Whidbey PUD and he is no longer associated with the campaign in any fashion,” Bob Kuehn, the treasurer for “People for Yes,” said in an e-mail to reporters Sunday morning.
Metheny did not immediately return a phone call to the Record on Sunday.
Campaign finance records on file with the state for “People for Yes” do not list Metheny as receiving a salary.
Campaign records do show, however, a single contribution from the Washington Public Utilities District Association for $6,475 that was received on Aug. 20.
