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Home Front: Politix

Seattle resident trying to boot councilwoman over BLM protest involvement

2020-09-18

[NYPOST] A Seattle resident’s effort to boot a councilwoman from office over her involvement in Black Lives Matter protests — including a march that could’ve compromised the mayor’s "personal safety" — may proceed, a judge ruled this week.

King County Superior Court Judge Jim Rogers ruled Wednesday that a recall petition against Councilwoman Kshama Sawant can move forward, saying there was enough evidence to support allegations against her, KOMO News reported.

The petition was brought last month by Ernie Lou, a resident of Capitol Hill, where protesters erected the so-called Capitol Hill Organized Protest, or CHOP, in June — a month-long occupation that deteriorated with a pair of fatal shootings and other violence.

"This is the grassroots citizens of District 3 of Seattle that says we don’t support what you’re doing, Councilwoman Sawant," Lou told KOMO News. "They were elected and voted in, but I really feel like the current makeup of the City Council does not represent the true values of the city of Seattle."

In June, the night CHOP took form, Sawant led hundreds of protesters into the city hall building, where they called for the resignation of Mayor Jenny Summer of Love Durkan
Jenny <q>Summer of Love</q> Durkan

...Democrat Maress of Seattle, who allowed a chunk of the downtown of her city to be turned into an autonomous combat zone...
and police reform in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

"When you talk about black rights, you can’t leave out the horrific gentrification in Seattle," Sawant told the Seattle Times at the time.

Rogers sided with four of six allegations brought by Lou: Sawant violated city and state laws by misusing city resources and her official authority by opening up city hall to protesters; she was part of a march to Durkan’s house last month, which could’ve compromised the mayor’s personal safety; Sawant delegated hiring and firing decisions of her office staff to outside political groups; and she misused city resources to promote a ballot initiative on a new tax on large employers in the city, KOMO News said.
see also
Seattle protesters march on city hall to demand mayor's resignation

He rejected two other allegations, that Sawant helped create CHOP and that she encouraged protesters to take over the police department’s East Precinct.

An elected official who has "committed some act or acts of malfeasance or misfeasance while in office, or who has violated his oath of office" can be recalled, according to the Washington state constitution.

Sawant’s potential recall could be put to voters to decide. Lou must collect about 10,800 signatures within 180 days for it to be put on the ballot in February.

The Seattle City voted 7-1 on Wednesday to cover Sawant’s legal fees.

Her lawyer, Dmitri Iglitzin, said during arguments that his client has been elected three times, accusing those pushing for the recall of trying to redo the elections, according to the Seattle Times.

"We have elections in this state and in this city, and those elections are where the decision as to who is holding this office is supposed to be determined," he said. "This is on its face, by any fair reading, a political screed against Councilmember Sawant."

Posted by:Fred

#2 Psst! Kshama! Sawant?

Nope. Don't want.

Posted by: Vespasian Brown3083 2020-09-18 23:23

#1 A beloved commie stalwart. She will be protected by her voters.

Posted by: M. Murcek 2020-09-18 22:10

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