By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
We know now what outgoing Lewis County Sheriff Steve Mansfield plans to do, or hopes to do, after his retirement from law enforcement.
Mansfield is one of three candidates interviewed by the Lewis County Board of Commissioners to manage the Department of Emergency Management.
The Lewis County Division of Emergency Management has been run by the sheriff’s office since the year 2000, when Mansfield was the hands-on manager as a sheriff’s lieutenant. Once he became sheriff in 2005, he was its director, with a deputy director handling the day to day responsibilities.
The division, or department, is in charge of administering preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery strategy in regarding manmade or natural disasters.
County commissioners will soon oversee the division, instead of it being part of the sheriff’s office. Commissioner Lee Grose has said the change comes from the idea it needed a full time manager.
The salary range was advertised at between $4,672 and $6,283 per month.
The other finalists interviewed last week were Vivian Eason, with Thurston County Emergency Management, and Doug Wangen, who currently works for the county health department.
Commissioner Edna Fund said she expects the board to make a decision tomorrow.
Mansfield’s 30-year career in law enforcement comes to a close as former Sgt. Rob Snaza, recently promoted to undersheriff, takes over, after winning a contested election last month.
Snaza will be sworn in tomorrow.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
Mansfield wasn’t voted out, john, he “retired.” Otherwise, yes, this is cronyism at its best/worst. It really IS who you know…
just one more way that your county officials can take a person who was voted out by the people and give him a new title and more of a tax burden to those who felt he was incompetent as a sheriff .with this being in appointed position you need to contact the county commissioners and tell them you do not wanted to happen or it will
Sput Sput Captain Mansfield. Good luck stinky. May your days be numbered short before you make yourself look foolish and out of control once again. Bring in all your Pe El meth tanks and show us again MEGA OVERKILL. Hey, but YOU THE MAN!
It is so “transparent” that it reeks like the STINK of a cut off infants head in a “premature” birth.
To Coral Smith and Allin: What many of us find so repugnant is the blatant – nothing at all veiled about it – omnipotence of the usual cast of characters shoving this latest piece of crooked cronyism down our throats. Until the next election.
You think it not unusual that after a decade of the position being administered in house suddenly it becomes necessary for the position to be full – time, and separate from the sheriff’s office?
They interviewed a couple token candidates for sake of appearance –
but, c’mon it was a done deal.
The spurious “reasoning” exhibited by both of you, in my opinion, is more at home on the local geriatric radio talk show, hosted by one of the crony gang. Who’s chief role is to serve as the propagandist for this bunch. Rationalizing the latest blunder – bus escapade. Or in the case of this situation – making sure it’s not even talked about.
Anyone remember how this bunch ganged up on DJ’s Sound City and Rainbow Records – trying to run them out of business back in ’81 because they dared sell smoking accruements?
This is sickening, in your face, good ol boy cronyism. Makes me wanna puke. Not a thing we the people can do. Talk about privleged entitlement. Not a surprise though, not in LC.
Mansfield is a perfect candidate, some call it the “Good ole boy” system. I call it the “We are full of tweakers and uneducated folks in this county so we have very few people qualified for this job” system.
Check all the records on Steve Mansfield. You might want to watch the Chronicle Media interview with ole Mansfield. His total meltdown during the interview speaks VOLUMES to his Emergency Management skills. He can’t manage his own family, or himself for that matter. He has a self-righteous temper that impedes his ability to lead. Check him out!
Steve Mansfield REALLY? This dude needs to tuck in his lame tail, go lick his major wounds, and call it RETIREMENT FOR REAL! What is this double standard guy trying to pull off? He can’t even handle “EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT” in his own family. Check the the records folks. This idiot needs to fade off into the woodwork. Pretty short 1 term Sheriff. Anyone wonder why? He’s a lame arse wanna be. We need to protest against this created job for an incompetent do nothing .
I noticed the veiled negativity for Steve Mansfield as a Candidate for Emergency Management. Can you fill that position> NO However IMHO I feel very strongly that he would be perfect given his experience. WHY Not him I’m sure money is a factor ,plus he still has a lot of energy left in him I say Go for it Steve That’s my opinion and I’m sticking with it.
It’s fortuitous Mr. Mansfield’s retirement occurred at the precise time the county commissioners – and ersatz Historical Museum board of trustees realized that what this position needed was a full time manager — and pronto!
The extra six grand a month will probably make that meager pension stretch a little further.
I guess it beats selling ambulances.
Nothing like double dipping. SMH!
“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others”
GoodGrief: I could smell think STINK as soon as I read the article! Just leave it to the local “good ‘ole boys and gal!”
“Pierce County inmate Green didn’t stand a chance…LOL”
Say WHAT???
For appearance sake alone, I would not want to see the former Sheriff move into a job that seems to be tailor made for his arrival.
Our government should be transparent above all else… why does it feel like this job, that the Sheriff held before he got elected, is being separated from the Sheriff’s Office in order to allow Mansfield to transition right back into his old desk? Sort of smells.
“After winning a contested election” Pretty much a no contest election is what you should have said. Pierce County inmate Green didn’t stand a chance…LOL