Republicans regret endorsing Yakima candidate

YAKIMA — Local Republican Party leaders now regret endorsing a successful City Council candidate before the Nov. 6 election in light of a blogging scandal, the party chairman said.

The city's mayor already has called for newly elected City Councilman Rick Ensey to step down after he acknowledged his wife posted anonymous blog entries that included unfounded rumors his opponent had been arrested for drunken driving.

Now, local Republican Party Chairman Jim Keightley says Ensey's tacit support for his wife's anonymous blog exposed character flaws that violate precepts valued by Republicans.

"Mr. Ensey's campaign failed to abide by the values and principles we hold dear; values of honesty, openness, and integrity," Keightley wrote in a guest commentary that appeared on the Yakima Herald-Republic's opinion page Tuesday. "We extend a sincere and heartfelt apology to those individuals who, because of our endorsement, voted for Mr. Ensey."

Ensey, a property manager, defeated Councilman Ron Bonlender, a sandwich shop owner, with 52.5 percent of the vote in the nonpartisan race for a seat on the Yakima council.

An anonymous blogger throughout the campaign repeatedly criticized Bonlender on an Internet site. The blogger also referred to "rumors" that Bonlender had been arrested several times for investigation of drunken driving and that the arrest reports had been covered up by the police, city manager and local newspaper.

The blogger offered no evidence and a review of state records by the Yakima Herald-Republic found nothing to back up the claims.

Two days after the election, Ensey acknowledged his wife, Diane, was the anonymous blogger.

Bonlender has filed suit against Diane Ensey for defamation and portraying him in a false light, alleging she maliciously smeared him on behalf of her husband. Last week, Mayor Dave Edler said Ensey should step down in the best interests of the community.

In his guest commentary, Keightley did not apologize to Bonlender, but rather accused the incumbent of making the race partisan and publicly supporting liberal positions held by the Democratic Party.

Keightley also said the party isn't endorsing the mayor's call for Ensey to step down before assuming the position in January. GOP leaders continue to endorse Ensey's conservative rhetoric and regret only that he did not run an "aboveboard" campaign, he said.