Running a state agency can be difficult.

I suppose in a way it gets easier if you do it badly.

Well, at least until you get caught.

With that in mind, I'd like to invite Harold Clarke, who heads up the State Department of Corrections, to stop clanging his metal cup on the prison bars and come on down.

With two-plus-years of tenure under his belt, Harold has indeed been doing it badly.

Pretty damn badly, actually.

With three area law enforcement officers dead because of a D.O.C. system that one investigation calls inefficient, inconsistent and choked with confusion, pretty damn bad is pretty much an understatement.

And let's not forget those 83 felons that the D.O.C. gave a "get out of jail free" card to simply because the agency couldn't find those folks a place to sleep.

Don't get me wrong, there has been some good news.

I mean, by all accounts the D.O.C. super bowl pizza parties held for prison inmates have been hugely successful.

Way to go Harold. Thumbs up there!

Anyway, for failing to give your people the tools to do their job; for jeopardizing public safety and eroding public confidence; for trying to cover your butt at the expense of your responsibilities and for going so far as to trying to stall your boss - the governor - take a bow Harold, because this "Schrammie" is for you.

Have something to say to Ken? E-mail him at kenschram@komo4news.com.

And be sure to join Ken, along with John Carlson, on "The Commentators", which airs every weekday from 9-Noon on AM 570 KVI.

It's a lively exchange of information, insight and perspective with two guys who don't agree on much, but still manage to enjoy each other as they tackle issues of the day. Even better, callers are invited in on the verbal action.