The recently appointed chairman of the Washington State Potato Commission resigned last week following his arrest on assault charges July 5. Robert Halvorson Jr., of Toppenish, was arrested by Yakima County Sheriff’s deputies after injuring a relative in a fight at his farm.
The incident occurred one week after Halvorson’s July 1 appointment as chairman of the potato commission. He resigned his position as chairman last week, but plans to remain on the commission at least through his term that ends June 30, 2010, said Karen Bonaudi, the commission’s assistant executive director. Halvorson has served on the commission since 2002.
