On Wednesday, I was proud to introduce new ethics reform legislation aimed at tightening conflict-of-interest rules across county government. My announcement followed a recent Seattle Times investigation that reported over $800,000 in county payments tied to employees’ family members and raised broader concerns about ethics enforcement and oversight failures in county contracting.
Nearly every family I know in King County is currently concerned about affordability and the rising cost of living. Given that backdrop, the potential for public dollars being misused in this way is a slap in the face to taxpayers and a violation of the trust of King County residents. We must be purposeful in ensuring hard-earned public funds are used efficiently and effectively, not scattered indiscriminately without regard to accountability.
Read more about the announcement here—Seattle Times: King County to weigh reforms after manager’s family paid over $800,000
Seattle Times: King County to weigh reforms after manager’s family paid over $800,000
According to the Times investigation, a county employee who managed a youth education program oversaw nearly $1 million in grant payments to five family members. Although concerns were raised in internal records, a formal investigation did not begin until after an audit — one that I requested for years — found that weak financial oversight within the Department of Community and Human Services left taxpayer dollars vulnerable to misuse.
My legislation would:
- Expand when conflict of interest rules apply to county employees and prohibit them from using their positions to benefit individuals with whom they have close family ties or significant personal relationships
- Expand conflict of interest rules to a broad range of “significant relationships”, such as individuals who are cohabitating or in established relationships
- Strengthen enforcement by requiring conflicts to be resolved, not merely disclosed, to ensure this type of potential financial misuse cannot happen again
The legislation builds on years of work aimed at improving accountability in county spending, including recently co-sponsoring legislation with Councilmember Rod Dembowski to create a new Inspector General Division to strengthen independent oversight.
With affordability a concern on all of our minds, I will continue to advocate for every legislative avenue possible to safeguard taxpayer dollars.
It has been rewarding to support and partner with King County TV as they as they create and produce video showcasing the rich and unique history of some of our communities in District 9.
Most recently, the community profiles series visited Ravensdale - our small, beloved community near Maple Valley with a surprising history of coal mines, bootlegging, and baseball.
Check out the video below.
Thank you to the many community members and partners who helped make this video possible and who continue to strengthen our community every day.
Special thanks to King County TV, Rock Creek Sports, Puget Sound Senior Baseball League, Maple Valley PONY Baseball & Fastpitch, Valor Soccer, Ravensdale Market, Maple Valley Historical Society, Black Diamond Museum, Gary Habenicht, Kerriston Coffee Roasters, VOICE of the Valley, Bill Kombol, and many others.
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