Story by Rodger Nichols for Gorge Country Media
Klickitat County Commissioners had a long day of it yesterday, and followed it up with a public hearing in the evening in White Salmon. Much of the action was focused on the 2026 budget, presented by Budget Manager Heather Gallagher:
“This year’s budget for all funds is $69,622,772. That is a 5 percent reduction from the current 2025 amended budget, which also includes the third supplemental, which we just approved on November 25th.”
The county will start the year with a hiring freeze, but not before adding three new positions:
“One is a probation case manager, to be shared with the cities, the jail to get a control board operator, and then a position in the Sheriff’s Office.”
Yes, that means that Sheriff Bob Songer is going to get the funds he’s been requesting for staff positions, as County Administrator Robb Van Cleave laid it out, and the Sheriff responded:
“14 deputies, 3 sergeants, now four administrators and the regular office staff/Well, in hearing that and clearing that up, thank you, thank you, thank you.”
As we reported yesterday, Klickitat County Prosecuting Attorney David Quesnell, who still had a year to go in his term of office, announced his resignation the day before Thanksgiving, effective December 14. Commissioners decided to advertise for an interim prosecuting attorney, with applications to close on the 19th, and an appointment made the following Tuesday. You can view Mr. Quesnell’s resignation letter below.
And one of the changes coming in the new year is the merger of several departments. County Administrator Van Cleave told commissioners:
“We’ll be announcing later this week that I’ll be promoting Scott Edelman to the director of the new combined building/planning/economic development/code compliance department, has yet to be named, and he will tentatively start that new role on the 1st of January. I look forward to working with Scott. He’s got a lot of experience in this area, and we’re gonna rely on him a lot.”
Here is a copy of the Klickitat County Prosecuting Attorney David Quesnell’s resignation letter:
On November 26th, 2025 I informed members of the Klickitat County Board of Commissioners that I will be resigning my position as the Prosecuting Attorney of Klickitat County, effective December 14th, 2025.
It has been the greatest honor my professional life to serve as Prosecuting Attorney and I am proud of the many accomplishments of my tenure the last 11 years. Most close to me already know I did not intent to run again in 2026 but recent events have led me to believe I can no longer serve effectively and with honor as the Prosecuting Attorney.
I cannot continue to defend or be associated with another agency that issues press releases sharing intimate details of of victims while also naming them and providing their address. Incredibly, these releases have also been posted on social media thereby subjecting victims to a barrage of negative comments and harassment.
No one should fear having their name and address broadcast to the public when reporting to law enforcement some of the worst moments of their lives. These releases may also compromise the rights of the accused by making it more difficult to field pools of unbiased jurors.
We are all, when accused of a crime, presumed to be innocent until proven otherwise in a court of law. Every member of the criminal justice system needs to honor that basic constitutional framework.
In addition, the county government has stripped essential recourses away from the Prosecutor’s Office, two years ago stripping funding for an attorney position and last year an investigator position. At the same time, the county has authorized payments to contract public defenders at an hourly wage equivalent to about four times my pay and five times of my Chief Deputy. It is no wonder why he recently moved forward with switching sides to seek the higher compensation and freedom of working as a public defender in Klickitat County, leaving my office with no experienced deputies and little prospect of being able to recruit new staff.
Again, I want to reiterate what an incredible honor it has been to serve as the Prosecuting Attorney of Klickitat County and how humbling it has been to be elected three times. I am especially grateful to two individuals, former Chief Deputy David Wall, who retired last year and worked alongside me for 9 years, and office administrator Janet Matulovich, who has worked with me to lead the non-attorney portion of the office for 10 years.
I could not have asked for better support and service. I also wish to extend my heartfelt appreciation of the multitude of current and past law enforcement members and county employees that are simply too numerous to name, thank you to everyone.