Spending investigated at potato commission

Former executive Pat Boss claims he paid organization

MOSES LAKE — Next week the state Auditor's Office circulates its biennial report on Washington State Potato Commission financial records.

Mindy Chambers, a spokeswoman for the state auditor, said the report follows a routine study of the commission's financial information and compliance with federal, state and local laws.

A senior potato commission staff member, familiar with the report's findings, said it describes more than $8,000 of spending "irregularities" on the expense account and credit card of former top executive, Pat Boss.

"The only irregularities they found were with Mr. Boss," said Chris Voigt, the commission's executive director.

The state found 13 specific examples of irregular spending, Voigt said Wednesday. The details are contained in next week's report.

Boss was hired by the Moses Lake-based commission in November 1996, as director of governmental affairs. He became executive director in 1998, and was highly regarded for work benefiting state potato growers.

Boss, of Moses Lake, declined an interview for this story, referring questions to his attorney, Garth Dano.

In May 2005, potato commission staff detected irregular spending by Boss and reported their findings to the commissioners, the 13-member governing body, Voigt said.

The commissioners confirmed the irregularities with evidence they received from staff members, then confronted Boss.

"At that time, Mr. Boss submitted his resignation," Voigt said.

Boss earned more than $100,000 annually before leaving.

He paid the commission $2,920 to settle spending discrepancies on his credit card and expense account prior to resigning, Voigt said.

But the state auditor found further dubious spending.

Dano, of Moses Lake, said Boss left the commission post with the impression he'd reimbursed his employer for any spending deemed personal, including some airfare.

"They said 'OK, we're clear, thank you,'" Dano said. "That money was paid back. They withheld some money from his final check, and I think he wrote them a check. So they settled it."

Boss is prepared to reimburse the commission for any further spending found to be personal, Dano said.

"If there are some obvious things that need to be taken care of, some additional personal charges, we'll take care of that," Dano said. "He's a responsible guy, and he's going to be responsible."

For now, Dano said, they're waiting to see the report.

Since Boss left the commission, new internal checks and balances were established to prevent future irregular spending.

An audit committee now reviews spending on expense accounts and credit cards monthly, with much greater scrutiny, Voigt said.

"That wasn't being done before," he said. "They were pretty much approving in general terms, they weren't being that detailed."

The Grant County prosecutor's office receives any potential evidence of wrongdoing at the completion of the state's inquiry, he said.

The potato commission, a quasi-governmental agency, was established in 1956. It now operates with an annual budget of approximately $3 million, according to its Web site.

It represents the interests of the state's 300 potato growers in both the arena of government and business.