A bid to recall Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson has been dropped just one month after two voters alleged she had failed to carry out her public safety responsibilities.
Melinda Jacobson and her husband, Dale Osterud, asked for an immediate order dismissing the recall charges they submitted to King County Elections in Washington on August 11. According to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the filing accused Wilson of “malfeasance,” “misfeasance” and violating her oath of office.
The couple had already missed a filing deadline on Wednesday before appearing in court the next day, where they said they had been out of town because of family matters.
Judge Patrick Oishi, who was assigned to handle the case, called their conduct “absolutely inappropriate,” according to the Seattle Times.
Oishi said he had not been told they would appear, leaving him trying to piece together what was happening in the recall case.
“Let me just stop you so we can cut to the chase,” Judge Oishi said.
He also told Jacobson that her lengthy responses were “forcing me to read your mind.”
The judge reminded Jacobson that superior court proceedings require a certain level of decorum, with straightforward questions met by straightforward answers.
A petition seeking to recall Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson has been withdrawn only a month after two voters accused her of failing to perform her public-safety duties
Melinda Jacobson and her husband, Dale Osterud filed to recall charges against Mayor Wilson in King County Elections Court in Seattle, Washington on August 11th. After previously missing a filing deadline on Wednesday, the couple showed up to court the following day with claims that they were out of town due to family matters
The outlet said that Jacobson was ‘a little stunned’ by the judge’s reaction.
She told the court that she had found new information related to the charges and wanted to investigate further. But she did not describe what new details were. Instead, she explained that she retained a lawyer to help restart the process and did not reveal their identity.
The lawyer was not present at court Thursday, according to the Seattle Times.
Jacobson said she had contacted multiple lawyers to take her case but that ‘too many attorneys in this city don’t want to handle a political situation,’ they reported.
In court, Mayor Wilson was represented by two personal attorneys, Dmitri Iglitzin and Abby Lawlor. She had allegedly been personally funding her defense instead of the city.
Her attorneys called the charges ‘frivolous’ and warned that Wilson could seek sanctions against Jacobson if their recall petition is restarted.
In Jacobson’s and Osterud’s previously filed charges, they cited the mayor’s inadequate handling of the Bite of Seattle shooting last month that saw three gunned down at a food festival.
They addressed the persistent crime rate in the downtown area of Aurora Avenue and Chinatown International District. They also questioned Mayor Wilson’s decision to turn off CCTV cameras after the world cup.
In Jacobson’s and Osterud’s previously filed charges they cited the mayor’s inadequate handling of the Bite of Seattle shooting in Washington that killed three people this past July
In court, Mayor Wilson was represented by two personal attorney’s Dmitri Iglitzin and Abby Lawlor. She had allegedly been personally funding her defense instead of the city
Jacobson also addressed the persistent crime rate in the downtown area of Aurora Avenue and Chinatown International District that has ran rampant under Mayor Wilson
With these charges, the couple was set to appear before a judge on August 31 to argue if they met the criteria for a recall petition. But the plans have since changed as Jacobson and Osterud requested an immediate order to end the recall.
As a result, Judge Patrick Oishi signed the order to dismiss the petition without prejudice and canceled the legal sufficiency hearing that was previously set for Monday.
According to Judge Oishi, if Jacobson and Osterud decide to restart the recall petition they would need close to 70,000 verified signatures from other supporters. The King County Elections would then have to collect all the signatures before the recall is restarted again.
Despite the recall flop, Wilson is becoming increasingly unpopular in liberal Seattle and could soon face a separate recall from other disgruntled – but better organized -voters.
She mocked wealthy entrepreneurs who announced plans to move out of the city over a new wealth tax and called for a boycott of Starbucks, which was founded there in 1973 and remains headquartered there.
Wilson has since sought to backtrack after multiple CEOs blasted her policies and said they were leaving, with Starbucks gradually shifting staff to its Nashville offices, amid growing rumors it will ultimately quit its home city altogether.
