Washington State Supreme Court Rules Unanimously
THREE CHARGES ARE CERTIFIED
AGAINST SAWANT
In Summary…
- Council Member Sawant has used city resources to promote a ballot initiative and failed to comply with public disclosure requirements.
- Council Member Sawant has endangered the safety of city workers and other individuals by admitting hundreds of people into city hall while it was closed to the public against state orders during the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Council Member Sawant led a protest march to Mayor Jenny Durkan’s private residence, the location of which Councilmember Sawant knew was protected under state confidentiality laws.
Want To Join The Effort?
PETITIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON!
We will be announcing when and where you will be able to sign the petitions in the coming weeks.
Please use the form on the right to sign-up for updates.
We will be announcing when and where you will be able to sign the petitions in the coming weeks.
Please use the form on the right to sign-up for updates.
ONLY REGISTERED VOTERS OF DISTRICT 3 CAN SIGN THE PETITIONS.
Since the UNANIMOUS ruling from the Supreme Court, the Recall Campaign is picking up momentum. Seattleites all over the city are angry and frustrated at the blatant disregard Councilmember Kshama Sawant displays toward Seattle.
The Seattle Times editorialized today urging District 3 to sign the petition and to support the Recall effort.
Click the image to read their opinion.
Those of us in District 3 know we have a great responsibility to make sure Sawant is removed from office before she does any further damage. This is where all Seattle citizens can help us succeed in the recall.
Please share our page with your fellow Seattleites. Let them know if they do not live in District 3, and cannot sign the petition or vote her out, they can still join by donating to the Recall effort.
Let’s show Sawant that Seattle supports the Recall without pandering to the rest of the world to drum up support to defend her illegal actions.
If you have not recently donated, we hope you will be able to donate today or tomorrow so we can reach our goal.
Can you make a donation of $25 – $50 – $100 – $250 – $500 or whatever you can afford.
We must band together in unison and recruit more support to succeed in this RECALL!
Thank you for your continued support of the Recall Sawant Campaign.
Henry Bridger II
Campaign Manager/Chairman
Summary of Judge Rogers’ Order on Sufficiency of Charges
1. Misuse of City of Seattle Council Office Resources to Promote a Ballot Initiative or Other Electioneering (Jan-February 2020)
•Court found that facts showed Sawant spent $2,000 and “assisted in other ways”
•Court found these actions were NOT “de minimus” (trivial) and that the “are from Councilmember’s own words” and City documents.
•Court found “these facts show actual knowledge of facts indicating that the Councilmember intended to commit an unlawful act”
•Court disagreed with Sawant’s interpretation of the state law prohibiting use of public funds and found that the broad language of the law BANNED use of government resources for ballot measures. It did NOT contain an exception for resources used before the ballot measure was filed (as claimed by Sawant).
2. Misuse of Councilmember Sawant’s Official Position in Admitting Hundreds of Individuals Illegally into City Hall Afterhours (June 9, 2020)
•Court found allegations legally and factually sufficient
•Court cited the Governor’s COVID orders and found that Sawant, “knowingly allowed in hundreds of people into City Hall despite the Governor’s proclamation” from retweets made by Sawant and related news articles.
•Court refused to find the incident at City Hall was a “politician demonstration” and cited the Supreme Court’s recent order in the recall of the Snohomish County Sheriff.
•Court found that “City Hall was locked to the public precisely because of the pandemic” and “thus, her alleged act of unlocking the building closed due to the pandemic and letting in the protestors PROVES HER INTENT needed to allow the charge to go forward.”
3. Using Her Official Position as City Councilmember to Lead a Protest March to Mayor Jenny Durkan’s Private Residence Whose Location is in the State Confidential Program (July 3rd 2020)
•Violation of the address confidentiality program constitutes the class C felony of harassment and “these facts show actual knowledge of facts indicating that Councilmember [Sawant] intended to commit an unlawful act and form a basis of knowledge of the allegations.”
•Court found that Sawant and other organizers knew the Mayor’s address, knew it was confidential, and led the protestors right to the Mayor’s home – where the Councilmember is pictured speaking”
•Court found “this is more than sufficient to satisfy the intent requirement.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Can voters really recall an elected official?
Yes! According to the Washington state Constitution, an elected official can be recalled if that politician, “has committed some act or acts of malfeasance or misfeasance while in office, or who has violated their oath of office.”
How many signatures are needed to recall Councilmember Sawant?
We will need 10,739 signatures! Though it’s best to gather about 13,000 – 14,000 to ensure we have enough since some will be invalidated.
Who can sign the petition to Recall Councilmember Sawant?
ONLY people who live in District 3 in the City of Seattle can sign the petition but anyone can donate.
What are the steps to Recall Councilmember Sawant?
Step 1 – Statement of charges sent via email to Julie Wise, Director of King County Elections on August 18th DONE
Step 2 – Julie Wise forwarded the Statement of Charges to Council member Sawant DONE
Step 3 – Julie Wise forwarded the Statement of Charges to Dan Satterberg, King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office DONE
Step 4 – Dan Satterberg, King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office will create “Petition to Determine Sufficiency of Recall Charges and Adequacy of Ballot Synopsis (LOU) and Certification and Petition for Hearing before a King County Superior Court Judge DONE
Step 5 – Hearing before a King County Superior Court Judge DONE
Step 6 – The Judge will either approve or not approve the recall election petition process. APPROVED!
Step 7 — Decision by the judge can be appealed to the State Supreme Court within 15 days
Step 8 – If the Judge and/or the Supreme Court (if appealed) approves, we will have 180 days to gather 10,739 “valid” signatures.
Who can donate?
Anyone is who a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident alien. You do not have to live in District 3
Why do you need my address and employment?
We are required by the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) and the City of Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission (SEEC) to have this information for each donation. Your name and address will be made public on the PDC’s website but only your name, city and zip code will be public on the SEEC’s website. If your total contributions are $100.01 or more, your employer and occupation will be public too.
What is the maximum amount I can contribute?
Under Washington State law the maximum amount an individual or a business can make is $1,000. Spouses can both contribute up to $1,000.
If she’s recalled, who will replace her?
The Seattle City Council will chose a replacement to serve only until the next general election, In this case probably until the 2022 general election, but could be the 2021 general election.. Whoever wins that election will face the voters in 2023.
When are the petitions going to be available?
There are still a few things to finalize with the court before we can distribute petitions. We are hoping to have them out within the next week.
Seattle City Council District 3
Still Unsure If You Live in District 3?
Paid for by Recall Sawant
PO Box 23086 – Seattle, WA 98102
www.sawantrecall.org