DANTINI INNOCENCE

Treasurer corrects record

This is in response to the "Dantini Decision" letter in the Feb. 10 Herald.
The writer referred to an arrest on "felony drug charges". This is untrue.
Sadly, The Herald was aware that I was not charged with felony drug
possession and chose to print the writer's comment.

Later in the letter, the writer stated his contempt for the legal system
because the prosecutor's office did not charge me. He then points out that
there was substantial evidence of drug possession based on tests and
statements made by the victim.

Our legal system is based on the premise that a person is innocent until
proven guilty. I guess this doesn't apply to elected officials as long as
more newspapers can be sold by sensationalizing innuendo!

Unfortunately, the writer made the mistake of believing that everything he
read in the newspaper was 100 percent true and presented the entire body of
facts.

How did it escape the attention of the media that the article of clothing
that tested positive for drugs was in the sole possession of the "victim"
both before officers arrived and after they left? I was not charged with a
crime because I was not guilty and because the system works.

Finally, one should wonder about the timing of the letter. This is a
campaign year. Any political opponent for my job won't be able to attack my
track record while in office: record investment earnings exceeding estimates
by millions of dollars; record levels of financial reserves; professional
cash management; computerization of cash investment and debt management
systems; and efficiently serving and saving the taxpayers' money. Does that
positive information sell newspapers? You be the judge.

BOB DANTINI, CPA, Snohomish County Treasurer