I can’t get through the gate. The gate is narrow. -Drew Brees, athlete
It was cold and drizzly on the early morning of January 5, 2021. Standing outside the door to the main lobby, newly elected Commissioner Mark Shull, second day on the job, was trying to keep warm while attempting to get into the County building. He forgot his ID badge with key that would allow him entrance. As employees passed into the lobby from outside he was informed he needed his key to get in. No one appeared to recognize him. When he did get to the front desk he was denied access to proceed to his office. Time passed and Shull finally proceeded to his 4th floor office on his own. Later the facilities management came and admonished him and told him not to do that again.
However frigid the atmosphere that day inside the building, several days later a cold-front hit that rapidly turned into a brutal political hailstorm. On January 8 at 11:19 PM email arrived at the County Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Council with a copy to the Commissioners. Its subject line read, “Blatant racism from a Clackamas County commissioner.” It gave examples of what was interpreted to be racist and homophobic statements posted on Commissioner Shull’s Facebook page. It demanded he apologize. If he didn’t, then he should step down.
The email was sent by a Democrat Party official. These posts were hoped to be the mother lode from which a ferocious onslaught against Shull that could be waged. By twisting, embellishing and exaggerating, the postings became what his enemies wanted them to mean. What would happen in the coming weeks would tear the County politically apart and redefine the role of taxpayer paid public employees.
Within days, the hearsay reports of Shull’s postings spread publicly. It didn’t take long before the bellowing for Shull to resign became a vast echo chamber of the Woke and those with a stake in driving him out of office.
Wicked chickens lay deviled eggs – unknown
The postings supposedly were just discovered on or around January 8, 2021. The justification for the uproar was that voters didn’t know about the postings, and the outcome of the election would have been different. The postings also violated the County’s Resolution 2015-96 that affirmed the values of diversity, equity and inclusion in County government.
Why did his adversaries claim to only have discovered the postings long after the election? Why was the bombardment of calls to resign timed so that Shull could slink away in shame even before being sworn in office? Why was he not given the opportunity to defend his innocence in Executive Session among his peers?
Writer’s note: “The Lilliputians are men six inches in height but possessing all the pretension and self-importance of full-sized men. They are mean and nasty, vicious, morally corrupt, hypocritical and deceitful, jealous and envious, filled with greed and ingratitude — they are, in fact, completely human.” See link below
His publicly viewed account had been active for years, and had yet to take it down at that point. It would seem surely his social media was tooth combed by the opposing campaigns leading up to the May 2020 primary election and the November 2020 general election.
Shull’s main opponent in the primary and general election was sitting Commissioner Ken Humberston. Humbertson, over time, had proven himself to be a reliable vote for the status quo. The results of the primary gave Humberston clear warning that he was facing a tough race to November. His close ally, Commission Chair Jim Bernard, lost his bid for re-election outright to Tootie Smith in the primary. In spite of the luxury of having his voter pamphlets decorated with notable endorsements by an ex-governor, 2 sitting Oregon US. senators, Clackamas mayors, unions, and various luminaries they weren’t enough. Humberston could not convince 50% of primary electors who voted that he warranted a second term. He faced Shull in the November general election.
If you are going to sin, sin against God, not the bureaucracy. God will forgive you, but the bureaucracy won’t .- U.S. Navy Admiral Hyman Rickover
Shull, on the contrary, had only two endorsements in the primary and none in the general. He relied strictly on his message of limited government and his impressive resume. If Humbertson and those around him knew about Shull’s postings, and chose to withhold exposing them for political advantage, they were probably confident he would win re-election counting on the strategy of his campaign. After the November votes were certified, reflecting Shull’s victory, one would have assumed all had been fought out, resolved and ended during the campaign. This was not to be. Enter Clackamas County staff.
To the BCC [Board of County Commissioners]:
In all the power dynamics of the employees here in the County, those of us at the top of that structure have the most responsibility to raise our voice. We respectfully call on you to condemn the comments of any commissioner who works against equity and inclusion of all of our residents, and to prioritize education and re-commitment of the current Board of Commissioners to the County’s policies on anti-racism without delay. We believe Mr. Shull should immediately resign his position.
All twenty-two Clackamas County department heads signed this hastily prepared statement, dated January 13th, addressed to the Commission demanding the resignation of a new duly elected Commissioner. Full of group hubris and a false sense of their collective clout, they believed the will of the voters was inferior to their own sense of right and wrong. Shull’s presumed disdain for Woke canon was unbearable. And unsaid, his desire for limited government and accountability.
Full of group hubris and a false sense of their collective clout, they believed the will of the voters was inferior to their own sense of right and wrong.
At first glance the statement looked like news satire out of The Onion or Babylon Bee. It was like reading about some tin horn foreign government trying to stage a coup. But it was far from farcical. They were dead serious. They were engaged in moral inversion. That is where something evil is redefined as good and worthy. Driving out a newly elected Commissioner then became not only correct, but good.
At first glance the statement looked like news satire out of The Onion or Babylon Bee. It was like reading about some tin horn foreign government trying to stage a coup.
This statement presented to the public the belief of the signers that it was necessary to break the chains of the conventional role of department heads as just facilitators of policy, to enforcers of good. Due to the imminent threat of violence or harmful statements it was imperative to exercise “power dynamics.” They would pressure Shull, elected by the voters who pay these functionaries, to immediately resign.
Contrary to the impression they wished to present that their statement was a spontaneous response to Mr. Shull’s social postings, they formed a committee was to compose the “power dynamics” statement. The statement was pored over and vetted for maximum impact. It was then hastily circulated to the group at large.
Things are not always as they seem; the first appearance deceives many.-Phaedrus, Roman fabulist
It was necessary to create a widely accepted narrative that depicted a false impression of Shull’s character to the thousands of Clackamas County employees for maximum impact. On January 12th at 12:54 pm Gary Schmidt,County Administrator, sent an email to all County employees. In the 2nd paragraph he associates the event on January 6, 2021 to Shull’s postings:
“While 2020 is behind us, there are continuing challenges in 2021. Both thousands of miles away at the U.S. Capitol last week and most recently closer to home. I want to acknowledge and recognize that many of us are effected by the violent actions at the U.S. Capitol last week. Yesterday, the media reported statements made by a recently elected County Commissioner on a social media page prior to his coming into office.” And later, “ Violence or harmful statements do not reflect the values of Clackamas County or its employees.”
Shull and January 6 would now be coupled. Many County employees could now be victims. For those that have been traumatized, help was available through County resources. Schmidt continued, “Many of us are impacted by recent events and are still feeling the effects of this past year. We have all been through a lot. I want to assure you that you are not alone and there is help to get us through these challenging times.” Schmidt ended with, “It is up to each of us to work towards healing ourselves before we can serve and heal our community.”
On January 12th it is announced that the ceremonial swearing in of Chair Smith and Mr. Shull is to be postponed due to recent threats of violence. Policy sessions and Business meetings would be conducted by Zoom rather than in-person. Another message clarified threat procedure and mentioned threats had been directed to Commissioner Shull.
The propagandist’s purpose is to make one set of people forget that certain other sets of people are human. – Aldous Huxley, author
The wording of the “power dynamics” statement was cobbled together quickly. There was a 1pm same day deadline. The wording of the draft would have to be tweaked perfectly. Up to the final hours the draft included “and to prioritize education and re-commitment of the current Board of Commissioners to the County’s policies on anti-racism and anti-white supremacy immediately. (highlight mine) We believe Mr. Shull should immediately resign his position.” Later that day The Clackamas Review would publish it along with the names of the department heads.
The words “anti-white supremacy” were dropped because it was pointed out “Technically, we do not have a county policy by this name and thus “anti-racism” is the correct policy to reference.” The County department heads were fully prepared to publicly associate Mr. Shull white supremacy. They would be willing to dehumanize him and destroy his reputation.
The letter was then emailed to the Commission members with an introduction by Schmidt. In it he stated, “I will continue to partner with you to advance a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion at Clackamas County. I can’t do it alone. I need your help to set the tone for our employees and the public.”
The tone, of course, would be sheer disgust toward Shull. To the County employees and the public he would be a social leper. He could not continue. His shame would be too great.
In an email, just hours before the Thursday Commission business meeting, a department head wrote to Schmidt, “ I hope this email is among many regarding the disgusting words of Commissioner Shull, which I became aware of just yesterday. I cannot, in good conscience, work in a County with this kind of leadership. I cannot bring items before the board that promote equity and inclusion, and have them judged by this person. This person cannot have a say over the work of the county. It is untenable and intolerable. If Mark Shull does not resign by Monday, ML Day, I will be resigning from the County.”
As of this writing, this employee is still working for the County.
Schmidt responded, “Like you I am disgusted and offended by the comments and beliefs of Commissioner Shull. The other County Commissioners are asking him to resign. I expect today’s business meeting will address this issue. The full Board is aware of the pain and anger from county staff and our entire community.” And, “If Commissioner Shull does not resign today I expect he will very soon.”
“Like you I am disgusted and offended by the comments and beliefs of Commissioner Shull… If Commissioner Shull does not resign today I expect he will very soon.”
Gary Schmidt, Clackamas County Administrator
For the staff, if he would not resign immediately, it would not be enough for them to politically wound him, but to slay his ability to be effective in his goal of limited government and department head’s accountability.
Shull would not resign over false accusations. His conscience would not allow it. His honor as a retired Lt. Colonel having served 25 years in the Marines and Army Reserve would not allow it. And as a decent human being he would not allow it.
And in the background, psychological warfare was already starting against him.
Next: Part 3 – Psychological Warfare
Last: Part 1 – The Execution
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