Port Angeles Commissioners Move to Censure Steve Burke Over Shore Aquatic Center Fraud Allegations
The Port of Port Angeles Board of Commissioners is moving forward with a formal resolution to censure one of its own members. Commissioner Steven D. Burke is facing an impending censure, scheduled for a special meeting on Friday.
The resolution represents a dramatic culmination of months of scrutiny, and follows a trio of damning reports published by the Washington State Auditor’s Office.
The state auditor investigations allege that Burke, in his separate full-time role as Executive Director of the William Shore Memorial Pool District, personally benefitted from tens of thousands of dollars in public funds through questionable credit card purchases, improper tax refunds, and unsupported medical payouts.
According to the Port Commission’s resolution, Burke’s continued presence in a leadership role creates an untenable situation for the Port.
The resolution explicitly states that the Port “faces a reputational risk” directly tied to Burke’s actions at the Shore Aquatic Center.
While the Port Commission lacks the statutory authority to remove an independently elected commissioner from office, Burke’s fellow commissioners, President Connie L. Beauvais and Secretary Colleen M. McAleer formally requested his resignation.
According to the public record, Burke declined to step down.
“Community confidence in public institutions is of paramount importance, and leadership involves understanding when stepping aside is in the best interest of an organization,” the censure resolution states. “The Port’s mission and daily work should not be overshadowed by the conduct of one elected official.”
If passed, the resolution will serve as a public statement of disapproval and immediately rescind Burke’s position as Vice President of the Port Commission. It will also strip him of all attendant commission roles, committee assignments, and official Port representations.
Furthermore, the resolution restricts Burke from receiving travel reimbursements for anything other than Port Commission meetings and meetings with the Port’s Chief Executive Officer.
The special meeting to address the censure is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. in the Commission Meeting Room on W. First Street, with virtual attendance options available to the public.
Office of the Washington State Auditor Investigation
The push for censure follows the release of three reports by the Office of the Washington State Auditor on November 3, 2025.
Following a regularly scheduled audit that flagged unusual payments to Burke, the state launched a comprehensive fraud investigation alongside its standard financial and accountability audits.
The resulting Fraud Investigation Report, which examined district records from February 21, 2019, through August 19, 2025, concluded that Burke personally benefitted from at least $41,148 in self-insurance medical benefits program payments, payroll tax refunds, and personal credit card purchases.
Auditors also identified an additional $25,980 in questionable expenses connected to Burke, meaning investigators could not determine if the expenditures had a legitimate business purpose.
The state auditor’s office determined that the William Shore Memorial Pool District entirely lacked adequate internal controls, leaving its essential functions—including disbursements, credit cards, and cash receipting—vulnerable to misappropriation.
The auditor’s findings are being reviewed by the Attorney General’s office for potential criminal charges.
Fallout
The fallout has reached the Port of Port Angeles. For Port Commissioners Connie Beauvais and Colleen McAleer, the allegations Burke is facing at his primary job represents a crisis of credibility for the Port.
When the Port Commission convenes on Friday, May 1, the public will see whether the board follows through on its pledge to formally distance itself from Burke’s conduct through censure.
“This issue relates to the conduct of one independently elected Port Commissioner, not the Port’s ongoing operations or the work it delivers in the community,” the censure resolution insists.
And one more comment, why did French pass over the financial report for the month at the meeting yesterday? Considering the fraud found late last year by a state audit, wouldn't now be the time to be even more careful and accountable and transparent?
The recent handling of the Shore Aquatic Center audit once again highlights a structural weakness in our county’s ability to ensure accountability. Prosecutor Nichols publicly acknowledged a conflict of interest due to two county commissioners serving on the Pool District board while he simultaneously serves as their legal advisor. As a result, the matter was referred to the Attorney General’s Office, where it now sits among tens of thousands of other cases awaiting review.
This is not an isolated problem — it is a predictable outcome of a system that lacks an independent mechanism for investigating misconduct involving public officials, public funds, or entities overseen by county leadership. When conflicts arise, cases are pushed to the state level, where delays are inevitable and local residents are left waiting, often for years, without clarity or resolution.
A Public Integrity Unit established within Clallam County would change that. Such a unit could:
• Conduct independent investigations when conflicts of interest prevent the prosecutor’s office from acting
• Review allegations of fraud, misuse of public funds, or misconduct by elected or appointed officials
• Evaluate violations involving school districts, special districts, and publicly funded programs
• Ensure that potential criminal conduct is addressed promptly and transparently
• Restore public confidence by demonstrating that no individual or entity is “too connected” to be scrutinized
This is not an unrealistic proposal recognizing that local oversight is essential to maintaining public trust. The challenge is not feasibility — it is political will. Convincing county leadership to support such a unit will require sustained advocacy, but the need is undeniable.
Residents of this county deserve a system that does not rely on hope, delay, or distant state offices to determine whether wrongdoing occurred. They deserve a process that ensures accountability is applied evenly, consistently, and locally. Until we establish a Public Integrity Unit, we will continue to see cases stalled, deferred, or lost in bureaucratic limbo, and the public will continue to question whether justice is being served.