Two recall petitions — for Mayor Durkan and Council member Sawant — are moving through the court systems. Let’s check in.
Continue readingCategory: ethics
Judge certifies recall petition against Sawant
After this morning’s hour-long hearing, late this afternoon King County Superior Court Judge Jim Rogers certified four charges in a recall petition against Council member Sawant to be factually and legally sufficient to proceed to the signature-gathering phase of the recall effort.
Continue readingSawant recall effort heads to pivotal hearing Wednesday
On Wednesday a King County Superior Court judge will hold a hearing on whether to certify the recall petition against Council member Sawant.
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 readingCity elected officials submit their annual financial disclosure forms
Each year, the eleven elected city officials in Seattle are required by law to submit a financial disclosure form by April 15, so that we can better understand financial investments, pressures, and potential conflicts of interest they may have. Here are this year’s forms.
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 readingThe legislative logjam has broken
By nearly all measures, the first month of the new City Council was quiet. Sure, there were a couple of controversial but legally meaningless resolutions, and Council member Sawant has pushed through some carryover legislation from last year. But a lot of committee meetings got cancelled, and few new bills were introduced. It now appears that was the quiet before the storm — and the storm just made landfall.
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.
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