OPINION | Bruce Smith is Yakima's Parasite

Yakima’s ruling class is an incestuous, parasitic political machine run by an arrogant and sometimes ridiculous set of small town bullies...and if you know what’s good for you, you will fall into line.

Will the Yakima County Republican’s be able to break the system that keeps rotten candidates in power? We’re about to find out...

How it Works for Yakima's Candidates

Let’s say you are sitting at the kitchen table and decide to run for a County position. You jump on the web and research filing fees, then you head down to the local Republican or Democrat party to get some help running a campaign. Experiences differ, but usually an insider sits you down and advises you to meet up with a guy named Bruce Smith.

Who is Bruce Smith?

He’s a very fat old fellow with a handy portfolio of businesses. As a candidate, the three companies you would be most interested in learning about are these:

• The Yakima Valley Business Times
• Yakima Valley Publishing
• First Tuesday Consulting

The conversation would most likely end in an invitation to hire Bruce as your campaign manager through his First Tuesday Consulting business.

Of course, he might decide you're a little too radical, or poor, or he might decide he likes someone else for the position. But for the sake of this story, let's say you have the five or six thousand bucks to throw at Bruce’s First Tuesday Consulting. Now what?

How Yakima's Ruling Class Sausage is Made

If Bruce decides to give you a break, First Tuesday Consulting will broker a deal with Bruce’s other company Yakima Valley Publishing, which will, in turn, purchase advertising with The Yakima Valley Business Times. But only in special cases. If you need a website and Logo, Bruce will kick you to his particular friend over at SPD&G Advertising and Public Relations.

You Need a Website?

SPD&G will build you a website, boost your social media, design your logo, come up with a slogan, procure your yard signs, launch a texting blitz, and buy you lots of full page advertising in Bruce’s Yakima Business Times.

Think of SPD&G as a pricy middle man...perhaps a little too pricy. If you can’t afford them in the long run, they will bill you for services rendered and cut you loose. But tread lightly, Bruce doesn’t like it when you opt out of his ecosystem.

What About Bruce Smith's Endorsement?

Since 2020, a staggering number of people have engaged with the Yakima County Republican Party (YCRP). These volunteers and elected Precinct Committee Officers (PCOs) don’t care much for Bruce.

Though Bruce is often telling everyone how Republican he is, it has become painfully apparent that Bruce is no friend of the local party. He instead opts to sell his endorsement to the highest bidder, all the while posing as a political wiseacre. Good for him. It’s a free country, have at it. Prattle on about “institutional memory” and “experienced civil servants...”

Why I Don't Trust Bruce Smith

When the local party changed its bylaws, enabling the grassroots to endorse candidates without reference to Bruce, I wondered whether there would be a shift in power.

"Unbiased News" | Bruce Smith's Endorsements

This year, after the Republican Party endorsed their candidates, Bruce wrote in the June issue of the Yakima Business Times, dismissing the Republican endorsements and forwarding a slate favoring his clients. Bruce praised his list of “qualified” individuals, omitting that he had received copious amounts of money from their campaigns.

I know Bruce is, after all, a Republican (and Brutus is an honorable man)...but somehow, I don’t think he’s entirely objective.

Bruce is known to work against candidates who don’t hire him, consult with him, or run against one of his candidates. Even if it means a Leftist takes office, no Republican is allowed to win without his consent.

One would think that this reputation for gatekeeping would sour his influence, but it hasn’t slowed him down one bit. With the suicidal corruption of the Yakima Herald-Republic, Bruce's political dominance is nearly absolute. With the lone exception being the Yakima County Republican Party.

Who are Bruce's Clients in the Yakima 2026 Election?

Let’s start with the dynamic duo, Jake Church and Quinn (Rosborough) Dalan. Both have purchased advertising in Bruce’s Paper. The two of them, along with County Commissioner hopeful, Bob Udell, all share the same treasurer and have coordinated many of the same volunteers.

Quinn, a longtime Democrat, declared herself a Republican when filing, to the surprise and frustration of the Yakima County Republican Party.

Quinn Dalan Failed to Protect Yakima's Innocent

Quinn (Rosborough) Dalan has recently come under scrutiny for her involvement in a rape case involving a minor.

While working in the County Prosecutor’s office, Quinn was approached by an investigator about allegations involving fellow attorney Aaron Dalan. Aaron and Quinn had been in a romantic relationship for two years prior to their interview with the Yakima Police Department.

Quinn Rosborough eventually married Aaron Dalan.

Bruce has been quietly pushing to secure various community endorsements for both Church and Dalan.

Raising Yakima's Taxes & Counting the Money

Yakima County Tax Assessor Jacob Tate has spent a little over $6,500.00 on Bruce‘s machine. Yakima’s current Auditor, Charles Ross, has spent an as yet undisclosed amount. I expect Bruce to take a swipe at their opposition. You can anticipate some childish insults and an absurdly condescending appeal to “institutional memory.”

What Does Yakima Do Now?

Bruce is openly working to nullify the Grassroots. I expect him to oppose candidates who don’t pay him off. But what of it? If Bruce Almighty decides to slander a few good men, how does that effect you? The good-ol’-boys are good for the county.

It’s not like local officials were vested by the Constitution with powers to defy a tyrannical government. Only people homeschooled by day-drinkers would think that.