Ethics report urges full investigation of Tenino mayor
TENINO, Wash. -- What happened inside the city-owned SUV outside a fitness club in September depends on who you ask.
A half dozen witnesses thought it was pretty clear.
"They were just going at it right in the front seat," said Nathaniel Howdeshell. "They were just like on top of each other. The seat is reclining back. Ugh, it was gross, really."
The incident prompted Kasey Louis to call 911
"It was oral sex. She was very passionate. It was appalling," Louis said.
When officers came looking for the Chevy Envoy, they found Tenino Mayor Eric Strawn inside with a woman.
No criminal charges were filed in the matter, but an ethics task force just completed its own report.
"As a committee, what we've said is whatever it was that was going on in there, it was clearly inappropriate," said John Millard, who was a member of the citizen's ethics review task force.
On Sunday, Strawn said the report was "just the beginning of their witch hunt."
Strawn insists the witness misinterpreted what was happening in the vehicle.
"I was just kissing with a woman," he said. Strawn also questioned the motives of the members of the task force.
What started out as just a review board, and then they became an ethics committee, and then they became a task force. Next week are they going to be a SWAT team?" he said.
The task force found several potential ethics violations and recommended the city council launch a complete investigation into how the SUV was used.
"I think plainly there was a sex act," Millard said.
The report also urges the city council to adopt clear policies on conduct and vehicle usage by city officials, as none currently exist. The task force's findings will be presented to the full council on Tuesday for review.
The mayor said he hasn't broken any laws but still can't clear his name.
"I don't know what else I can do," he said. "Keep on living my life and working for my city."
A half dozen witnesses thought it was pretty clear.
"They were just going at it right in the front seat," said Nathaniel Howdeshell. "They were just like on top of each other. The seat is reclining back. Ugh, it was gross, really."
The incident prompted Kasey Louis to call 911
"It was oral sex. She was very passionate. It was appalling," Louis said.
When officers came looking for the Chevy Envoy, they found Tenino Mayor Eric Strawn inside with a woman.
No criminal charges were filed in the matter, but an ethics task force just completed its own report.
"As a committee, what we've said is whatever it was that was going on in there, it was clearly inappropriate," said John Millard, who was a member of the citizen's ethics review task force.
On Sunday, Strawn said the report was "just the beginning of their witch hunt."
Strawn insists the witness misinterpreted what was happening in the vehicle.
"I was just kissing with a woman," he said. Strawn also questioned the motives of the members of the task force.
What started out as just a review board, and then they became an ethics committee, and then they became a task force. Next week are they going to be a SWAT team?" he said.
The task force found several potential ethics violations and recommended the city council launch a complete investigation into how the SUV was used.
"I think plainly there was a sex act," Millard said.
The report also urges the city council to adopt clear policies on conduct and vehicle usage by city officials, as none currently exist. The task force's findings will be presented to the full council on Tuesday for review.
The mayor said he hasn't broken any laws but still can't clear his name.
"I don't know what else I can do," he said. "Keep on living my life and working for my city."
Why is Mayor-Jauna so matter of fact about his innocense? Just as if everyone but him are liars! So COCKY in more ways than one!
How much time and money are they going to spend to figure out if two consenting adults had sex?
@MidnightRambler I believe that all committee members are volunteers!
Big problems for a small town, I wish everyone the best
Government officials have been using their office to screw citizens for a long time. I guess the Tenino Mayor figured it was okay to do it in a city owned vehicle. Sounds like business as usual. At least his hands were too busy to reach for my wallet.
"The report also urges the city council to adopt clear policies on conduct and vehicle usage by city officials, as none currently exist."
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So, he didn't break any rules. Apparently there's nothing better to do in Tenino than to go after people smooching in cars LOL.
@mhungry There wouldn't be much to upset people if all he were doing was smooching in his own car. But that is not what happened and then he refuses to take responsibility for his own actions. At mid 30's I would hope that people know right from wrong. Why does it always require RULES and Regulations! Grow up, act like adults and know right from wrong!
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How do I go thru life and never have any clue what is going on in someone elses car? I dont look in their windows.
 @thatsjarrod Or call 911?
I'd still rather have this guy as my mayor than the mayor of Pacific.
 @JusticeSeeker Well, that is a given. lol
 Why was the Mayor driving a police car?  impersonating a police officer? Sex between 2 adults is not illegal but sex in public is illegal. Cheating on your wife is not illegal, it is immoral. Not taking responsibility for your actions, always blaming someone else, Man up!   Mayor claims that "I don't know what else I can do " Oh, I am sure you will have no problem thinking of some other stunt to pull! It seems that you have done what you set out to do so please call it good, and step down.
@own it I don't see anywhere where it says he was driving a police car. It says "city-owned."
@Tattooed_Angel, previous articles say it was a police vehicle with police stickers on the vehicle.Â
Seems to me that if the city has no rules regarding use of city vehicles, then this "review board/committee/task force" has a political axe to grind. Too bad, as I'm sure there are other more pressing issues the town would like to see this kind of effort put towards fixing.
 @theToucan His haircut, for one.
It's conduct unbecoming to a mayor.  Looks and reads like a cartoon character.
 @plantfann Even funnier if you read this:  http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2017591835_teninomayor25m.html
A quick check of the Washington courts website shows he has had 34 court cases. Â I hope one of them is for the dissolution of his marriage, because he is or was married.
There is a time and place for everything. I am all for oral sex, or even a little make-out session, but maybe in a vehicle in view of the public is not such a great idea.
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 @DDG In the first place it didn't happen in Tenino so please don't insult the Tenino citizens intelligence. Secondly the ethics task force was not from Tenino either, so get all the facts before you continue to be a hater. FYI the incident happened in Lacey, the ethics task force was from Lacey, and the issue is not the act, it's the fact that it happened in a public place in plain view in a police vehicle when the mayor was in another city for an official meeting, which by the way he missed due to his lack of professionalism and self control. By the way happy holidays.
Where's the adult behavior??? People are human,,, Â folks in most other countries have known that for centuries,,,, this kind of crap doesn't make the news elsewhere. But here,,,,, Â people are obsessed with tattle tailing. Now,,, if the officious pipsqueaks all full of their own egos would have used their cell phones to take a video,,,, Â maybe they could have sold it and made some money,,, :O) Â Have a sense of humor and move on.Â
A big deal about nothing. No police witness so let it slide with a reprimand, which he's already gotten.
Let's be kind to each other and learn to forgive
The hippy mayor probably can't afford his own vehicle to chase women. I doubt that that city has any guidelines regarding use of official vehicles. In most cases these little "podunk" towns don't develop rules until there is an uproar over something. As far as the escapades of the mayor, if it was a consenting adult there is nothing there. Maybe the town residents could take up a collection in order for the mayor to get a cheap room when he is out of town on "busisness".
@cactivet, the sad thing is that rules have to be put in place for things that people should be intelligent enough to figure out it is not a good idea! Kind of like not using your toaster in the bathtub!
Like this is the most importabt thing going on today. Forget about it and let's move forward !!
seacougr,
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I agree, but still ask the question; canât Tenino just stay out of the news.
There have got to be more importnant things to worry about.
Surveyor,
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 It is my limited understanding that a few on the board owe the town some back taxes, so they are all at fault. Gotta love those small towns.