Washblog

Petition Filed for Recall of Port of Seattle Commissioner Davis

By noemie maxwell
Wed May 09, 2007 at 09:40:24 AM PST
Section: King County Topic: Ports

Recent Washblog stories on Port of Seattle: Port Commissioner Recall: What Will it Take and story on Port candidate Bill Bryant. Poll below the fold.


Chris Clifford

Mic Dinsmore, Port of Seattle CEO, was the highest paid head of a Port in the US.  Yet around the time he was leaving the position in 2006, Commissioner Pat Davis signed off on a $339,841 salary extension for him. Davis says this decision was made with the knowledge of the other commissioners.  The other commissioners deny this or won't speak on it.
Private benefit from public resources has characterized the Port operations for years.  In 2007 we'll have an opportunity to change course for the Port by re-electing Alec Fisken and replacing Bob Edwards with Gael Tarleton or another challenger.  We also have an opportunity to recall Pat Davis.  Renton activist Chris Clifford has initiated the recall.

This Monday, Clifford filed a Petition to Determine Sufficiency of Recall Charges and Adequacy of Ballot in Superior Court.  He wrote to me last night that the petition is required to have a hearing within 15 days.  He plans to appeal to the state Supreme Court if the petition is not successful in Superior court. If the petition is approved, it'll need somewhere around 150,000 signatures to make it on the ballot.

From: Petition to Determine Sufficiency of Recall Charges and Adequacy of Ballot, May 7, 2007.
FACTS

On or about January 10, 2006, the Port of Seattle Commission met in an executive session.

On or about June 8, 2006, the Port of Seattle Commision met in an executive session.

On or about October 10, 2006, Port of Seattle Commission signed a memorandum granting Mic Dinsmore an outgoing employee of the Port of Seattle, $339,841.00 of extra compensation outside the original employee contract for that employee.

On or about March/April of 2007, Mic Dinsmore sought to collect the monies granted to him by Port of Seattle Commissioner Pat Davis.

Acts of Malfeasance and Misfeasance
  1. Port of Seattle Commissioner Pat Davis committed an act of malfeasance by obligating the Por tof Seatle to pay monies not voted on or approved b the Port of Seattle Commissioners at a regularly scheduled public meeting.
  2. Port of Seattle Commissioner Pat Davis committed an act of misfeasance and malfeasance by using her position as Port Commissioner to provide a "gift" of public money to her personal friend and political ally Mic Dinsmore.
  3. Port of Seattle Commissioner Pat Davis committed an at of malfeasance by voting on an issue in an executive session on or about January 10, 2006, in violation of the Washington State Open Meetings Act.
  4. Port of Seattle Commissioner Pat Davis committed an at of malfeasance by voting on an issue in an executive session on or about June 8, 2006, in violation of the Washington State Open Meetings Act.
  5. Port of Seattle Commissioner Pat Davis committed an at of malfeasance by knowingly violating the limited context of the executive session exclusions of the Open Meetings Act to improperly negotiate and vote on a "gift" of public money

The acts of malfeasance and misfeasance regarding Port of Seattle funds are evidenced by the October 10, 2006 memo signed by Pat Davis to Mic Dinsmore. Further evidence of these acts are Mic Dinsmore's attempt to obtain the monies stated in the October 10, 2006 memo in 2007.

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Poll

What's your prediction for the recall?
Pat Davis will be recalled by a wide margin
Pat Davis will be recalled by a slim margin
No recall (fails at election level)
No recall (fails at signature level)
No recall (fails at qualifying as a petition in the courts)
Regardless of recall outcome, education effort will help boost other good candidates

Votes: 38
Results | Other Polls
Display: Sort:
Petition Filed for Recall of Port of Seattle Commissioner Davis | 9 comments (9 topical)
the charge sheet seems to be missing a few things
On or about October 10, 2006, Port of Seattle Commission signed a memorandum granting Mic Dinsmore
sorry if I'm seeming obtuse,  but in what way is this specifically tied to Pat Davis.  I.e., does the 10/10/2006 memorandum have her signature on it?  If so, is hers the only one?  (And if there are other signatures, why focus on her specifically?)

Also, is it known who attended the executive sessions?  (If it's not known, will the judges be able to subpoena the minutes of such sessions to find out Davis' exact role in this?)

by wrog on Wed May 09, 2007 at 05:09:29 PM PST

* 1 none 0 *

I'll try and find a link
for the pdf. Only Davis signed (she was the Port president at the time). The thing I found funny is that, though Disnmore signed the document, he neglected to date it.

And there are no minutes to the meetings because executive sessions don't require them.

I'll be on the lookout for one of those petitions. I just bought new pens yesterday.

by shoephone on Wed May 09, 2007 at 07:57:47 PM PST

* 5 none 0 *