President Barack Obama nominated Ron Sims to be Deputy Secretary of Housing and Urban Development earlier this year but he is ill suited for the position based on his prior performance, according to Americans for Limited Government.
Ron Sims has been King County Executive since 1996 when he was chosen to succeed Gary Locke, who had been elected governor. Under Sims’ watch, the medical examiner’s office was run unprofessionally and disrespectfully, Americans for Limited Government (ALG) claim in a news release.
IAn unsavory work environment took was evident during this time, ALG explains in the release. For example, it has been discovered that dead bodies were stretched out on the floor, crude language and gestures were common, harmful chemicals were poured down the drain illegally, a body was lost, and a weekly contest to pick the most disgusting photo of the dead was held according to the release.
It is also worth noting that King County is now being sued for misusing funds set aside for wastewater. To get a neighboring county to allow a new sewer treatment plant to be located there, King County agreed to pay for improvements projects there.
These improvements were funded from the wastewater fund. King County also agreed to buy a soup company that was located near the site of the plant. These giveaways total over $100 million. If the court sides with the plaintiffs, King County will have to spend tens of millions of dollars to reimburse the fund it raided.
“Ron Sims has been a disaster as King County Executive,” said Don Todd, a head researcher for ALG. “Time and again he has been told of county problems, and time and again he has ignored those warnings. He has tolerated and even praised gross incompetence and mismanagement. He has knowingly violated the law, and he has turned a blind eye as his employees refused to comply with the law. He has catered to the interests of the fat cats and ignored the plight of the little people adversely impacted by his and his employees’ actions.”
Congressional hearings will be held this week on Sims’ HUD nomination.
