RSS15th District candidate Marichalar was fired from DSHS job
Yakima Herald-Republic
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YAKIMA, Wash. -- Donicio Marichalar, a Democratic candidate in the 15th Legislative District, was fired last year as a state social worker for failing to properly investigate allegations of child abuse, lack of productivity and for missing too much work, according to state officials.
Marichalar, 41, of Grandview, worked in Yakima in the regional office of the Department of Social and Health Services, where he supervised employees who investigate complaints of abuse and neglect of children in state care, such as foster homes and day-care centers.
His job classification was "social worker 4," the highest level in social work, in the Division of License Resources/Child Protective Services within the Children's Administration of DSHS.
"Your lack of production and performance failures diminish the overall effectiveness of meeting the mission of the Children's Administration," administrator Pleas Green wrote in the August 2008 letter dismissing Marich-alar.
In a telephone interview Tuesday, Marichalar confirmed that he was dismissed but declined to elaborate. He said he has filed a complaint contesting the action with the state Human Rights Commission.
"I really don't want to state anything right now," he told the Yakima Herald-Republic.
Marichalar is running for the state House seat held by Rep. David Taylor, R-Moxee. His name is on the Aug. 18 primary ballot, along with Democrat John Gotts of White Swan and Taylor. Gotts ended his candidacy in June, when he decided to move to California.
Both Marichalar and Taylor will advance to the General Election.
Marichalar was the subject of a 2008 investigation by the state Auditor's Office into a whistleblower's allegations that he failed to properly investigate or report at least five allegations of child abuse and neglect at two day-care centers.
In one incident, the auditor found that Marichalar didn't act on a report that workers at a day-care center had been advised to sedate crying babies.
The Herald-Republic published a story summarizing the audit findings in March 2008. At the time, neither DSHS nor the state auditor identified the supervisor who was the subject of the whistleblower's complaints, citing personnel rules. Both agencies confirmed recently that Marichalar was the unnamed supervisor in the audit.
As a result of the audit, he was transferred to a nonsupervisory job with DSHS in Yakima before he was fired.
Marichalar said the claims in the whistleblower audit are false. He also said he filed his own whistleblower complaints against DSHS management, but he declined to elaborate.
Ken Nichols, DSHS child welfare director for Yakima, said an internal agency investigation found them to be accurate.
At the request of the Herald-Republic, the agency released a copy of its termination letter to Marichalar on Tuesday.
"There was merit to the whistleblower's complaint," Nichols said Tuesday in a telephone interview.
He said Marichalar's dismissal was the result of the audit, his failure to complete "investigative assessments" -- reports on potential problems in foster care and day care -- and unauthorized and excessive absences over a five-month period.
He was supposed to complete three investigative assessments per week. Instead, he completed eight in a six-month period in 2008, according to DSHS's termination letter.
The letter states that he took leave from work without required approval 16 percent of the time between Feb. 25, 2008, and June 25, 2008. In May of that year, he was absent 46 percent of the time, according to the letter.
He also visited Web sites unrelated to work, according to DSHS, including "myspace, match.love.aol, (sic) hallmarkstore.com."
Marichalar had worked for the state agency since 1998.
This does not even address the emotional abuse he subjected his staff and peers to. This man seemed to live to create chaos and pain in the lives of his co-workers. He presents as friendly, but it is artificial. Too bad we can't make people have mental health exams to help ensure safety in the workplace. Donicio would get paranoid of his co-workers. 7 investigators in a 2-3 year period were either fired or quit as a direct result of having Marichalar as their supervisor.
Report ViolationThe Yakima Herald does it again. Marichilar was fired from his job because he was complaining about the way the state was investigating foster homes. That is why he filed the complaint. The higher ups didnt like his complaint about how kids in the foster care system were being left out to hang. He stood up against the system and the system retailiated. Do some research into the complaints he filed against the system and you will have your answer.
Report ViolationThis is a much more revealing and serious story than the one on his opponent, Taylor. It is more meaningful, since these allegations apparently were ongoing and recent, where that reported about Taylor's were not.
Report ViolationDo we really want this guy in the House? Wrongful allegations or not? To much garbage is already connected to his name guilty or not. There is always two sides to a story..and something as serious as this..maybe he not guilty maybe he is..but the idea he is in this wipes out my vote..sorry.
Report ViolationDo we really want this guy in the House? Wrongful allegations or not? To much garbage is already connected to his name guilty or not. There is always two sides to a story..and something as serious as this..maybe he not guilty maybe he is..but the idea he is in this wipes out my vote..sorry.
Report ViolationSo - this is newsworthy and important information for voters to have but a DUI conviction isn't. Don't y'all get it - IT'S ALL IMPORTANT!!! Why pick and choose? Put it all out there and let the people decide. By the way, there is no mention of a crime being comitted by this man.
Those of you who are submitting additional information about this story - could you provide sources please? Is this direct knowledge or another example of Yakima's infamous heresay mill? Gossipy town, this. Interesting that it is also one of the most conservative communities in the State.
The Yakima Herald does it again. Marichilar was fired from his job because he was complaining about the way the state was investigating foster homes.
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Are you only readying parts you want to hear? Did you read any of the things he did?
Also how can one say he was standing up against DSHS, when he was clearly the one putting children in harms way.
Not a chance!
Mr. Taylor made one mistake and paid in full for that mistake.
Mr. Marichalar took a job to protect children and was too lazy to perform those duties. If he can't perform at a 9 to 5 how is he supposed to travel to Olympia every year and perform with our communities best interests in mind?
Fired by DSHS? Do you realize that's nearly impossible? You can't get fired from a govt job. Wow!
Report ViolationHe will fit in nicely with all the other politicians in office. LOL
Report ViolationThere are always two stories to every issue and there is definately more than meets the eye in this story. It is unfortunate that Yakima Herald didn't explain Marichalar's comments with more detail, so the public would be better informed. Like all the documentation he has to prove that he was unjustly let go. Marichalar a 10 year veteran at CPS had the highest level classification in social work, as reported by the Yakima Herald, so why did CPS allow this employee such a high status and put him in a Supervisory role, if he was not doing his job. Something does not add up. Do the research folks Marichalar reported some items to the higher ups in Olympia, that CPS would rather not have been reported and got let go because of it. He was asked to back off and he chose to do the right thing and take it to top, because his job was more than just a pay check, he wanted to protect families and make sure that the agency was doing the job it was paid to do. He stepped up and unfortunately retaliation did to. That is why the case is under investigation by the Washington State Human Rights Commission. I want a Representative who is not afraid to step up and do the right thing for us in Olympia. MARICHILAR HAS MY VOTE ANY DAY!
Report ViolationYakRob - There is a humanitarian crime that has been committed. Crimes against children. For a supervisor to slow down the investigation of cases to the rates that Donicio slowed them down to is a crime. Marichalar refused to close cases even when his investigators had all of the evidence in and could do no more. Yakrob for anyone to verify if they are firsthand informants, could jeopardize their own state positions. Wouldn’t you rather get the facts, even if it is anonymously?
Michael – Obviously you are either Donicio in disguise or a friend of his who has bought into his bull. It takes a lot to terminate a State employee with many years of employment (I would say service, but not the right term in this case).
Marichalar is a scary guy. Ask any of the people who worked with him who are not afraid to speak up because they no longer work for the State.
Justice - Marichalar's side of the story is not the same side of the story of the several people that he has wronged. The reason why it is so hard to get rid of a guy like Donicio? Unions. And I am pro-union, but with the State, it can get carried to the extreme.
Marichalar certainly deserves what God has served him. The state has done the right thing in letting go of this man. And i think if he were able to see the big picture in all the anguish and suffering he has caused alot of hard working professionals, Marichalar would agree himself. People please be careful in your comments as he is a parent and a good one at that. Don't expose his children to this public ridicule as they are proud of his accomplishments. It is just unfortunate it has to come to this. I think really if Marichilar were to make things right he would appologize to all those he has done wrong too and for all the wrong doings he has done in the past and then move on to bigger and better things. If it were possible for him to do just that, he would probably be elected to the 15th district seat.
Report ViolationUnfortunately, Angel, when you seek to live in the public light, you subject yourself to this kind of scrutiny. The family takes the fallout. Rather than us being careful, maybe he should have thought of this and not subjected his family to this scrutiny. But then again, if he gave others this kind of consideration, he would not have done the horrible things that he did!
Report ViolationIntheKnow - "Unfortunately, Angel, when you seek to live in the public light, you subject yourself to this kind of scrutiny". Funny - does this hold true for Mr. Taylor, Mr. Ettl, Mr. Ensey, ad naseum? Or do you only apply this logic to a particular party affiliation? Regarding this being a crime against humanity - okay, if proven, I would agree. But, my point was, and is, this is not a "crime" in the same respect that DUI is a crime.
I have worked in State employment and there are different types of classifications within the system - some are non-exempt, some are exempt - generally, exempt staff are not allowed overtime and serve at will - this allows the supervisor to terminate employment without the same requirements that termination of a non-exempt employee requires - anyone know which classification this man held?
YakRob - My feelings about this creep are because I know the man and I know what he did. I also know many people who were abused in the workplace by this creep. By statements are not because of a political affiliation. He was a social worker 4.
Report ViolationTypo...not by statements, my statements :)
Report ViolationYou see, YakRob, we are both alumnis of the State. I was an employee at the time of this man we have been discussing.
Report ViolationWay to go Marichalar! Stand up and show how much of a fool the system really is where a man like you can seriously "go to the Human Rights Commission" after being fired from the State - I am sure it was years in the making - sounds like it? Seems like you are just pleading a case to someone else who would listen but also sounds like you think you actually have one, why? Does the Human Rights Commission protect those that think they get a free ride on tax payer dollars and don't have to work for their pay? Am I missing why you are entitled? Do tell? Please make sure you let the paper know all about what they find because absent from a finding that you truly are above reproach and are really the victim you claim to be, seems like the public's opinion above that seems like some are/were your co-workers see it otherwise. Bravo to you again, putting yourself in this position to expose the State's abusive systems called where you can abuse your position, while abusing others, now you assert your the victim. First hand I know you and most of your former co-workers, lots of them still remain in Yakima area, create the system of choas that makes the system dysfunctional. Now to think of you possibly being in Olympia where you think you will be able to act appropriately and act with integrity to make decisions which will be much tougher than surfing the web at work is a scary thought? One would ask, who is protecting our children isn't that what you should have been doing? What were you doing with our tax dollars that were being paid to you, if, as they claim you were not doing what the paper says they say you were doing by holding up your share of the work load or not moving the work forward but merely "surfing the web" for halmark cards and dates? If someone of your fortitude is running for office to be a voice, someone please look after the vulnerable in Yakima. Gather them up and save them from the politicians like you or those who think they can now "make a change" when like you couldn't do a job for years on end but got paid. It seems that you are now mad, unemployed so are alleging maltreatment so what else, but run for office? Hmmm. To be fired from the any public entity come on surely, there is something you're missing because there are lawyers needing money in this economy that would take your case on and you no doubt know how to cash in on your story if you are truly the victim. You wouldn't have to run for public office. Where is the smoking gun just where is it, please do tell the truth and the whole truth, I am so captivated now! It would be nice to hear about it. Get a real job, earn a living and then come back to reality about changing the world, we don't need your concepts of changes, we just need you to change. Best of luck in the polls, I will be watching with eager excitment to see how this story plays out.
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