The Political Brawl for Benton County's Courthouse
A recall campaign ignited by Prosser-based politicians against Kennewick commissioners threatens to fracture the county.
The story, cleaned up
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Prosser politicians are making one more effort to grab control of the Board of County Commissioners by attempting to recall Kennewick representatives J.B. Clements and F.L. Bash. The move, orchestrated by the 'Tax League,' aims to force the construction of a new courthouse in Prosser. When Ed Ward, a commissioner who pledged against building a courthouse without a public vote, resigned, his successor was named without incident. However, the League is now targeting Clements and Bash. A representative named Severyns arrived in Kennewick to stir up resentment, claiming the commissioners are 'no good' for refusing to follow the League's bidding on site selection and municipal spending. Kennewick residents remain skeptical, viewing the maneuver as an attempt by outside interests to force a tax-funded project on the community against their will.
“They hope it would at least stir up so much ill feeling and distention in this end of the county that neither Clements nor Bash could work in harmony with the people in their districts.”
Local government tension over regional resource allocation and 'courthouse politics' remains a recurring feature of municipal life. The 1915 struggle between Prosser and Kennewick over the seat of county power mirrors the modern-day friction between the Tri-Cities as they navigate shared infrastructure and regional identity.
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