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The first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol and Seattle city hall, PubliCola has been called a “must-read” by the Seattle Post Intelligencer and a hot “New Media Mover and Shaker” by Seattle Magazine—which also cited our own Erica C. Barnett as the city's No. 1 news nerd.

Extra Fizz: Anti-Tunnel Activist Files Ethics Complaint

News   December 3, 2009 at 1:54 pm Erica C. Barnett

Screen grab from WSDOT's scary viaduct video

Screen grab from WSDOT's scary viaduct video

Elizabeth Campbell, the anti-tunnel activist who has already sued the city and the state over issues related to the proposed $4.2 billion deep-bore tunnel, has filed an ethics complaint against a long list of state officials, including Gov. Christine Gregoire, former Gregoire transportation advisor Ron Judd, transportation secretary Paula Hammond, and viaduct program administrator Ron Paananen.

The complaint alleges that officials at the Washington State Department of Transportation and the governor’s office attempted to influence the Seattle mayoral primary election in favor of Greg Nickels. The complaint is based on a string of emails between state employees, including one in which Judd wrote,

As you all know the Mayor is in big trouble and I am not sure he can pull it out even if he is in the run off.

That brings me to the big issue that will be front and center between now and the election……our tunnel. I think we need to pull together a discussion about messaging and other strategies for the tunnel over the next 2+ months. It will not be helpful if this election turns out to be a referendum on the tunnel. So we need to work on ensuring as much as possible that does not happen.

The complaint alleges that the state officials “sought to influence the outcome of the mayoral elections in order to ensure that the State could let a contract to build … the Central Waterfront Tunnel,” first by seeking to ensure Nickels’ reelection, then by supporting Joe Mallahan against now-Mayor-Elect Mike McGinn.

Previously, Campbell alleged that the state was trying to influence the mayor’s race by releasing a frightening video showing the viaduct falling down in an earthquake. Campbell had requested the video as part of a larger public-records request. At the time, state officials said they had no choice but to release the video because it was part of a records request; however, it’s hardly standard operating procedure for public agencies to release responses to public records requests to the general public.


  • City Employee

    She has basically sued everyone and files new public disclosure requests almost weekly. Elected officials endorse each other all the time. They work on each others camapigns, contribute fundraising lists to candidates, raise money, ask others to vote for and support them.

  • City Employee

    She has basically sued everyone and files new public disclosure requests almost weekly. Elected officials endorse each other all the time. They work on each others camapigns, contribute fundraising lists to candidates, raise money, ask others to vote for and support them.

  • Gordian

    Yes, but what they can’t do is use their public office to effectively campaign for the opponent, thus the ethics complaint. I’m not sure if this will stick or not, but regardless of whether it will, those emails are some serious mud on the face for Gregoire and compatriots.

  • rob

    I remember during the election, people who questioned the timing of the Viaduct Video release were marginalized as conspiracy nuts.

    The email in this post seems to indicate that a state agency was trying to influence our mayoral election.

    I will be interested to see how this all plays out.

  • rob

    I remember during the election, people who questioned the timing of the Viaduct Video release were marginalized as conspiracy nuts.

    The email in this post seems to indicate that a state agency was trying to influence our mayoral election.

    I will be interested to see how this all plays out.

  • rob

    I remember during the election, people who questioned the timing of the Viaduct Video release were marginalized as conspiracy nuts.

    The email in this post seems to indicate that a state agency was trying to influence our mayoral election.

    I will be interested to see how this all plays out.

  • rob

    I remember during the election, people who questioned the timing of the Viaduct Video release were marginalized as conspiracy nuts.

    The email in this post seems to indicate that a state agency was trying to influence our mayoral election.

    I will be interested to see how this all plays out.

  • LaborGoon

    I don’t get it. Where in this e-mail does Ron Judd suggest using his or somebody else’s office to influence the outcome of the election?

    He is talking about discussing a coordinated message from tunnel-supporting stakeholders because their issue will be “front and center” in the mayoral election campaign. Sounds to me like he’s doing his job, which is to advocate for the governor’s position in support of the tunnel.

  • LaborGoon

    I don’t get it. Where in this e-mail does Ron Judd suggest using his or somebody else’s office to influence the outcome of the election?

    He is talking about discussing a coordinated message from tunnel-supporting stakeholders because their issue will be “front and center” in the mayoral election campaign. Sounds to me like he’s doing his job, which is to advocate for the governor’s position in support of the tunnel.

  • LaborGoon

    I don’t get it. Where in this e-mail does Ron Judd suggest using his or somebody else’s office to influence the outcome of the election?

    He is talking about discussing a coordinated message from tunnel-supporting stakeholders because their issue will be “front and center” in the mayoral election campaign. Sounds to me like he’s doing his job, which is to advocate for the governor’s position in support of the tunnel.

  • LaborGoon

    I don’t get it. Where in this e-mail does Ron Judd suggest using his or somebody else’s office to influence the outcome of the election?

    He is talking about discussing a coordinated message from tunnel-supporting stakeholders because their issue will be “front and center” in the mayoral election campaign. Sounds to me like he’s doing his job, which is to advocate for the governor’s position in support of the tunnel.

  • LEFTisRIGHT

    Labor Goon has a good point.

    If Ron Judd wasn’t advocating the Governor’s position on the tunnel then he wouldn’t be doing his job.

  • LEFTisRIGHT

    Labor Goon has a good point.

    If Ron Judd wasn’t advocating the Governor’s position on the tunnel then he wouldn’t be doing his job.

  • LEFTisRIGHT

    Labor Goon has a good point.

    If Ron Judd wasn’t advocating the Governor’s position on the tunnel then he wouldn’t be doing his job.

  • LEFTisRIGHT

    Labor Goon has a good point.

    If Ron Judd wasn’t advocating the Governor’s position on the tunnel then he wouldn’t be doing his job.

  • http://joshuadf.blogspot.com/ joshuadf

    Well, I for one am just glad the tunnel is still in the news. I just love hearing about it.

  • http://joshuadf.blogspot.com joshuadf

    Well, I for one am just glad the tunnel is still in the news. I just love hearing about it.

  • tpn

    Anyone can file a “everything but the kitchen sink” ethics complaint, or lawsuit for that matter. Anyone can go on a fishing expidition via numerous FOIA or Public Disclosure requests. It does not mean there is a “there” there. In this case, it is only a story because the petitioner coincides with the bias of the writer’s reporting.

  • tpn

    Anyone can file a “everything but the kitchen sink” ethics complaint, or lawsuit for that matter. Anyone can go on a fishing expidition via numerous FOIA or Public Disclosure requests. It does not mean there is a “there” there. In this case, it is only a story because the petitioner coincides with the bias of the writer’s reporting.

  • tpn

    Anyone can file a “everything but the kitchen sink” ethics complaint, or lawsuit for that matter. Anyone can go on a fishing expidition via numerous FOIA or Public Disclosure requests. It does not mean there is a “there” there. In this case, it is only a story because the petitioner coincides with the bias of the writer’s reporting.

  • tpn

    Anyone can file a “everything but the kitchen sink” ethics complaint, or lawsuit for that matter. Anyone can go on a fishing expidition via numerous FOIA or Public Disclosure requests. It does not mean there is a “there” there. In this case, it is only a story because the petitioner coincides with the bias of the writer’s reporting.

  • http://manywordsforrain.blogspot.com/ Mr.Baker

    I agree with 4-5-6-7.
    that is advocating for an approved project and how it is discussed in public.
    Next thing you know somebody will sue to take down “Your Nickle at Work

    This story, a Cary Moon “Op/Ed”, what’s next, a Sierra Club payoff ad to pay the bills?

  • http://manywordsforrain.blogspot.com/ Mr.Baker

    I agree with 4-5-6-7.
    that is advocating for an approved project and how it is discussed in public.
    Next thing you know somebody will sue to take down “Your Nickle at Work

    This story, a Cary Moon “Op/Ed”, what’s next, a Sierra Club payoff ad to pay the bills?

  • Marge

    It is completely inappropriate to use public resources to influence the outcome of an election. There are state laws against it.

    It is entirely appropriate for state officials to do anything within their power to carry out the policy direction of the state legislature and the Governor, which appears to be what has happened in this case.

    Most people get that. But a lot of these e-mails are pretty entertaining. Sometimes the phone is a better place to be a human.

  • Marge

    It is completely inappropriate to use public resources to influence the outcome of an election. There are state laws against it.

    It is entirely appropriate for state officials to do anything within their power to carry out the policy direction of the state legislature and the Governor, which appears to be what has happened in this case.

    Most people get that. But a lot of these e-mails are pretty entertaining. Sometimes the phone is a better place to be a human.

  • http://gomezticator.livejournal.com/tag/2009+election Gomez

    Don’t forget the name of her organization! SCAT! Kind of like the credibility of her complaint.

    Once again… private engineers are always part of the WSDOT engineering process or any engineering process anywhere, because they’re the ones who eventually are going to have to engineer the solution to the problem, and they need to make sure it’s feasible.

  • http://gomezticator.livejournal.com/tag/2009+election Gomez

    Don’t forget the name of her organization! SCAT! Kind of like the credibility of her complaint.

    Once again… private engineers are always part of the WSDOT engineering process or any engineering process anywhere, because they’re the ones who eventually are going to have to engineer the solution to the problem, and they need to make sure it’s feasible.

  • Gordian

    Yes, but what they can't do is use their public office to effectively campaign for the opponent, thus the ethics complaint. I'm not sure if this will stick or not, but regardless of whether it will, those emails are some serious mud on the face for Gregoire and compatriots.