Town Mayor Faces Backlash Over Poor Performance Ratings

In a recent government meeting, Lacey citizens voiced their concerns regarding the performance of elected officials, particularly focusing on Mayor McDonald, who is currently in a contested race for reelection. Richard Bidnick, representing the community, presented a performance evaluation of the mayor, highlighting significant dissatisfaction across multiple categories.

The evaluation revealed that Mayor McDonald received failing grades in several key areas, including congeniality, fiscal responsibility, integrity, and responsiveness to public concerns. Citizens criticized his handling of the controversial Johnson Controls project, which they claim wasted $310,000 of taxpayer money, and expressed frustration over a lack of transparency regarding municipal decisions.

Bidnick noted that the mayor's failure to address public concerns, particularly regarding grass cutting issues in the Forked River Beach area, further contributed to the negative assessment. The mayor's handling of community property sales, which many residents believe violated the original intent of the donations, also drew ire, with ongoing lawsuits stemming from these actions.

Additionally, residents expressed outrage over rising taxes, with one citizen stating that their taxes have tripled since moving to Lacey in 1999. The community is particularly concerned about the proposed $92 million municipal complex and the recent 9.9% tax hike, which they feel contradicts the mayor's claims of stabilizing taxes.

The meeting underscored a growing discontent among Lacey residents regarding local governance, with calls for greater accountability and responsiveness from elected officials as the election approaches.