Free Speech Seattle
1331 Terry Ave. #104
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 781-7371
http://www.freespeechseattle.org/
info@freespeechseattle.org
Free Speech Seattle, proponents of Initiative 46 (I-46), filed a formal complaint with the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission today against Seattle City Attorney Mark Sidran. The group, who's initiative would repeal the anti-postering ordinance, claims that Sidran has violated Seattle Municipal Code 2.04.300, "Prohibition against use of public office facilities in campaigns."
The complaint points to two occasions where Sidran allegedly used his office, and taxpayer dollars, to campaign against I-46. "We welcome opposition to our initiative," said Tim Crowley, Campaign Manager for I-46. "We just don't want a campaign run with public dollars."
On February 25, 1999, the day I-46 was approved as to form, Mark Sidran appeared on KCPQ (channel 13) News in opposition to the initiative. It appears he did so from his city office. "It seems inappropriate, at best," says Crowley, "for Mr. Sidran to be campaigning, from his office, against an initiative that he wrote the ballot title for just days before."
On June 15, 1999, Mark Sidran's office sent a press release regarding the City of Seattle's lawsuit against Mighty Movers, Inc. to the local press. Mighty Movers, Inc. has been charged with violating the anti-postering ordinance. Only the first paragraph of the press release dealt with the lawsuit, and the complaint alleges that the bulk of it was nothing more than a campaign piece against I-46.
Initiative 46 was filed in response to Seattle Municipal Code Section 15.48.100, "Unlawful Posting of Signs." Supporters claim that the poster ban has harmed Seattle's political, artistic and theatric communities, as well as anyone who has ever lost a pet or held a garage sale.
Carol Van Noy, Executive Director of the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission, can be reached at 684-8577 or carol.van.noy@ci.seattle.wa.us.