Last Friday a King County Superior Court judge certified, in part, a petition from a group attempting to recall Mayor Jenny Durkan because of her actions (and inaction) during the recent protests. The recall election process is similar in many ways to voter initiative and referendum processes, but it also has its own unique aspects. Let’s review the whole process, where the current effort stands, and what happens from here. (update: a couple of technical corrections made below based upon feedback from the city)
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What happens to voter initiatives during a pandemic?
You don’t have to read very far in the Washington State Constitution to understand the priority given to grassroots democracy. The second sentence in the Constitution reads: “All political power is inherent in the people, and governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, and are established to protect and maintain individual rights.” Article II doubles down on this idea, in an amendment adopted in 1911: The legislative authority of the state of Washington shall be vested in the legislature, consisting of a senate and house of representatives, which shall be called the legislature of the state …
Continue readingCatching up on Sawant’s alleged misdeeds
There are several pending allegations of law-breaking against Seattle City Council member Kshama Sawant. Let’s get caught up on where they currently stand.
Continue readingSupreme Court declines to hear appeal of Democracy Voucher challenge
Today the United States Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of the Washington State Supreme Court’s ruling last July upholding the legality of Seattle’s “Democracy Voucher” program, putting to final rest the legal challenge to the campaign finance program.
Continue readingSawant responds to ethics commission charges
This afternoon, Council member Sawant issued a statement in response to the charges of ethics violations filed against her yesterday by the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission.
Continue readingSawant and “Tax Amazon” campaign violating several state and local laws; Ethics commission files charges
As City Council member Kshama Sawant and other activist groups have spun up their “Tax Amazon” campaign, they have violated several city ordinances and state laws. Today the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission officially charged Sawant with one of these violations.
Continue readingCouncil passes two “Clean Campaigns” bills
This afternoon, the City Council unanimously passed two of the three bills in the suite of “Clean Campaigns” ordinances aimed to reduce the influence of big money — and particularly corporate money — in local politics.
Continue readingTwo thirds of “Clean Campaigns” legislation passes out of committee
This morning, the newly-seated City Council passed out of committee two bills that are part of Council President Lorena Gonzalez’s “Clean Campaigns” legislation package, leaving one more to receive additional tooling over the next three months.
Continue readingPhotos from Monday afternoon’s swearing-in ceremony
This afternoon, Council members Herbold, Morales, Pedersen, Juarez, Strauss and Lewis took their oath of office and deliver some prepared remarks (Sawant will take her oath of office next week, but addressed the audience today too). Also, Lorena Gonzalez was elected Council President by her peers. Here is a gallery of photos from this afternoon’s swearing-in ceremony and the new Council’s first meeting.
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Here’s what you missed over the holidays
Welcome back! A few things happened in mid-to-late December that you may have missed, so here’s a post to get you caught up.
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