Hulten’s wrist slap insults citizens

So, Kevin Hulten must pay a nominal fine and pick up litter for a few days as a consequence of “tampering” with evidence in a criminal investigation. “Tampering” is a much kinder word than “destroying,” which is what he actually did. And this will surely be the only court appearance for either Hulten or Aaron Reardon.

This slap on the wrist administered in the name “justice” is a slap in the face to all who suffered harassment and abuse at his hands. Reardon won’t be held accountable for his part in the affair, and whatever fines may be charged to the two by the state Public Disclosure Commission will be little more than an inconvenience.

Missing from this story is the fact that Hulten didn’t spring into being in Reardon’s office. He was employed by Sen. Steve Hobbs in 2006 and 2010 to do just what he was hired by Reardon to do in 2011. From anonymous website attacks to emails from pseudonymous superheroes and fictitious entities, the trademark was the same in Hobbs’ two races against Lillian Kaufer.

If anyone thinks Kevin has learned any lessons from this experience, visit his website (http://www.hul10.com) and read “Open Data Case Study”; “Building an Aerospace Workforce … From Scratch”; “From Roadkill to Power Brokers,”; “Landing A Local University” and “From Bill Draft to Passing the Renewable Energy Act.” Without addressing what role he may or may not have played in any of these matters, or whether any of them actually came about as he described, I will point out that he bills himself as a consultant who takes full credit for all achievements, real or imagined. Reardon and Hobbs get not a shred of credit.

Some may call this justice, but not me. A coward who uses Hide My @$$.com to do his dirty work does not deserve a pass when accountability time rolls around.

Jackie Minchew

Everett

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Opinion

toon
Editorial cartoons for Tuesday, March 19

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Students use a 3D model to demonstrate their groups traffic solutions at Hazelwood Elementary School on Wednesday, March 29, 2023 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Editorial: Your choice, drivers; slow down or pay up

More traffic cameras will soon be in use in cities and highways, with steep penalties for violations.

Protect Affordable Care Act by rejecting Trump

The stakes are high in this year’s presidential election. If candidate Donald… Continue reading

Support candidates who support schools

I promised I would stop writing these letters because the gates of… Continue reading

Biden must stop supplying weapons to Israel, Ukraine

Bad foreign policy will come back to haunt us in the long… Continue reading

Comment: Flow of U.S. guns into Mexico is other border crisis

Guns, legal and illegal, are contributing to crime and instability in Mexico, driving many to seek asylum.

RGB version
Editorial cartoons for Monday, March 18

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Carson gets a chance to sound the horn in an Everett Fire Department engine with the help of captain Jason Brock during a surprise Make-A-Wish sendoff Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, at Thornton A. Sullivan Park in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Editorial: Everett voters will set course for city finances

This fall and in coming years, they will be asked how to fund and support the services they use.

Devotees of TikTok, Mona Swain, center, and her sister, Rachel Swain, right, both of Atlanta, monitor voting at the Capitol in Washington, as the House passed a bill that would lead to a nationwide ban of the popular video app if its China-based owner doesn't sell, Wednesday, March 13, 2024. Lawmakers contend the app's owner, ByteDance, is beholden to the Chinese government, which could demand access to the data of TikTok's consumers in the U.S. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Editorial: Forced sale of TikTok ignores network of problems

The removal of a Chinese company would still leave concerns for data privacy and the content on apps.

Rep. Strom Peterson, D-Edmonds, watches the State of the State speech by Gov. Jay Inslee on the second day of the legislative session at the Washington state Capitol, Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, in Olympia, Wash. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Editorial: Legislature has its own production of ‘The Holdovers’

What state lawmakers left behind in good ideas that should get more attention and passage next year.

Comment: Measles outbreaks show importance of MMR vaccinations

The highly contagious disease requires a 95 percent vaccination rate to limit the spread of outbreaks.

Harrop: Should ‘affordable’ come at cost of quality of living?

As states push their cities to ignore zoning rules, the YIMBYs are covering for developers.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.