Jon Russell: Transparency ain't my middle name.

As I have pointed out repeatedly, the character-and-integrity challenged Jon Russell is an interesting guy.

Over on his Facebook Page, he fills in a little bit about himself.

The problem is that, like most integrity-challenged people, it's not the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

Here's an unaltered excerpt:

About Me:

Board of Directors for the Washougal School’s Foundation
Leadership Board for the Camas-Washougal Salvation Army
Board of Directors for the Camas-Washougal Chamber of Commerce
National Rifle Association
Member of the Columbia Land Trust

Other Experience
American Council of Young Political Leaders, Delegate to the Philippines
Deputy Campaign Manager for U.S. Congressman Jon Hostettler (R-IN) 1996
Guest Panelist, Washington State University, Public Affairs Lecture Series
Guest Panelist, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Turn the Page Conference

Legislative Priorities
Small business, healthcare & a balanced budget

The problem isn't so much what he indicates is his experience (though all of it combined in no way makes him qualified to be a congressman)

The problem is what he's left out.

It's a problem for two reasons. First, because, well, he left it out. And second, those running for political office should provide FULL disclosure of ALL of their political activities... don't you think?

Of course, for me, Russell's deception is deliberate, and his efforts to deceive the electorate into thinking he's a stand up guy is just precisely the reason why I'm hammering him like a nail.

So, here's the rest of the political truth about Jon Russell, congressional candidate.

About Me:

Board of Directors for the Washougal School’s Foundation
Leadership Board for the Camas-Washougal Salvation Army
Board of Directors for the Camas-Washougal Chamber of Commerce
National Rifle Association
Member of the Columbia Land Trust


Other Experience

Campaign consultant to the Port of Vancouver's massive tax increase levy (That failed miserably, 70-30 "no" vote)

Former fired Legislative Assistant, Washington State House of Representatives.

Failed House Republican Organizational Committee field liaison, 2004 cycle.

Former Executive Director, Faith and Freedom Network

American Council of Young Political Leaders, Delegate to the Philippines
Deputy Campaign Manager for U.S. Congressman Jon Hostettler (R-IN) 1996
Guest Panelist, Washington State University, Public Affairs Lecture Series
Guest Panelist, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Turn the Page Conference

Legislative Priorities
Small business, healthcare & a balanced budget

That isn't all, of course. Attempting to get Pam Brokaw's social security number from me while he was with HROC isn't up there; because, after all, that wasn't a "job" per se' as much as it was a reflection of the kind of politics he employs.

I, of course, didn't have it. I didn't need it... didn't want it, and wouldn't have given it to him if I did. But is this the kind of person anyone would want to represent them in anything, be it Washougal city councilman or US Congressman?

Now, I can certainly get why he left out the first 3 in the "other experience" category.

But why is he so ashamed of his time at Faith and Freedom Network? An oversight, I'm sure,

Further, House Republican Leader Rep. Richard DeBolt has had the opportunity to work with Russell, Herrera and Castillo. And who is he endorsing?

Here's a hint. It ain't Russell.

It's kind of like deliberately misleading people with your bizarre labeling of campaign stops as "town hall meetings."

Why you insist on lying so much is a mystery to me.

The truth, Mr. Russell. People need to know EVERYTHING political about you, warts and all. After all, you wouldn't want to mislead people into thinking you're something you're not... would you?
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Jon Russell at his finest: Fired city finance director to receive $9,167 for 5 months.

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Jon Russell, who will be best known for being humiliated in the upcoming Congressional primary if he doesn't wise up and get out, makes no bones about using his exalted position as a Washougal City Councilman as a campaign prop whenever the mood strikes.

Up to now, Russell's political career has included making thousands off an effort to ram the largest tax increase in SW Washington history down our throats by consulting for the Port campaign in their miserable effort in the Port Levy, his rank incompetence of fiscal oversight of the city's checkbook along with clumsily tossing Stacy Sellers under the first available bus the moment his lax oversight resulted in documented illegal expenditures that became public.

To that, we can add this idiocy:

Washougal OKs deal with ex-finance director

Fired in December, he will get severance of $9,167 per month for five months

By Marissa Harshman
Columbian Staff Writer

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Fired in December, he will get severance of $9,167 per month for five months

A dispute about whether Washougal’s former finance director was fired with or without cause resulted in an agreement entitling Jeffrey Bivens to five months severance pay.

The Washougal City Council and Bivens came to an agreement Dec. 29 after weeks of severance negotiations. Bivens’ employment contract stated he would receive three months pay if he was fired with cause and six months pay if the termination was without cause. But because the two parties couldn’t agree on the firing or whether Bivens’ original employment contract was voided by his inability to obtain insurance coverage, the city will pay Bivens $9,167 per month for five months, according to the agreement. Bivens’ annual salary is $110,000.

More here.

Not one to miss the opportunity to send out a press release or blog his latest "accomplishment" (based entirely on his campaign, as opposed to what's best for the people of Washougal) I, unfortunately, missed his latest spin on shelling out $50,000 taxpayer dollars on a guy he should never have been allowed to hire in the first place.

I, for one, can't wait.
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Redux:The trouble with "Restoring Trust In Government" when you're not honest about who you are: Russell continues to blow off his tax and spend past.

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A reminder about fake "trust in government."

It's all well and good for Jon Russell (R-Chicago) to come out and take shots at our local Cowardman, Brian Baird.

In fact, I've taken a few (as in dozens) of shots at the slimy worm representing us in Congress that seems to have gone so far as to make up death threats as an excuse for lacking the testicles required to face his constituency over his upcoming sell out on the empty suits socialized health care plan... in keeping with his cowardly, hypocritical votes on the porkulus and cap and swindle bills that he voted for... without ever reading.

That, however, does NOT "Restore Trust In Government."

It does not restore trust in government ("Trust" being the entire underpinning of one's campaign) when you, yourself, made money in an incompetent effort to ram the largest single property tax increase in our local history down our throats when you, Mr. Russell, ran the Port of Vancouver's abortive campaign to do that very thing.

YOU were in charge of the Port getting massacred at the polls. YOU made thousands of dollars off that effort. YOU have attacked others wrongfully an in the most underhanded ways when they're wise enough to oppose your positions.

YOU are the one fired from the House Republican Caucus in Olympia; YOU are the one who portrays yourself as some sort of expert on health care... and YOU are the one who keeps telling us "actions speak louder than words."

YOUR actions are right out of the Axlerod playbook. And we really don't need that kind of representation around here.
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