Retired Benton County Judge Eugene Pratt says he is preparing to file recall petitions against all three Port of Benton commissioners, arguing that an outside investigation uncovered repeated violations of rules and state law. If he follows through, the effort would launch a signature drive and could force special elections that might replace the elected three-member board that oversees the Tri-Cities port, its airport and its industrial properties. The challenge lands on top of months of internal strife at the port, including the suspension of the executive director and the firing of the agency’s recently hired finance chief.
What the outside probe found
A redacted 21-page summary of an outside investigation concluded that several complaints involving Commissioner Scott Keller had merit, including potential violations of state gifting laws, the use of port-paid water at a privately owned hangar, and lease changes that cut rent, according to the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business. The outlet reports that the port hired outside counsel to conduct the review and later posted the redacted summary for public viewing on its website.
Recall push and the legal hurdles
Pratt told AppleValleyNewsNow he intends to start the paperwork for recall petitions, while the Benton County auditor’s office said it had not received any filings at the time of that report. Washington law sets a high bar for recalls: supporters must gather signatures equal to a set share of the previous vote and, for most local officials, have at most 180 days to circulate petitions after a court issues a ballot synopsis. If a petition is certified, a special election must be held 45 to 90 days after certification. For the fine print, the procedures are spelled out in RCW Chapter 29A.56.
Port leadership upheaval and public reaction
The recall talk follows a series of leadership decisions that have already put the Port of Benton under a spotlight. Commissioners placed Executive Director Diahann Howard on paid leave in January and later fired the port’s chief financial officer, while public comment during recent meetings has been sharply critical, according to NBC Right Now. The broader controversy includes an investigation into unmetered and unpermitted water hookups at Richland Airport hangars; reporting by the Tri-City Herald says one hangar linked to a commissioner did not have its own meter and was receiving water through port-owned infrastructure.
Legal and fiscal stakes
Investigators flagged concerns that some of the conduct identified in the probe could amount to illegal gifts of public funds or improper use of public resources, issues that could bring financial consequences and repayment obligations if they are ultimately sustained, the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business reports. The same coverage notes that a citizen complaint has been filed with the State Auditor’s Office, which has said the matter may be taken up as part of its next audit cycle.
From here, the fight shifts to a mix of procedure and politics. Pratt and any allies who join him would have to collect the required number of valid signatures within the legal time limits, then wait for county officials to verify the petitions. If they meet the threshold, the county would schedule a special election. Until then, Port of Benton meetings and the state’s recall statute will control the pace as the dispute moves from closed-door investigations into a full public showdown.
