Five Lacey residents came forward at the city council’s meeting last Thursday, August 3, to comment on the issue of campaign sign removal.
Councilmembers Ed Kunkel and Lenny Greenstein were recently under scrutiny after a video came to light showing Kunkel removing a campaign sign of District 5 Thurston County Commission candidate Emily Clouse from the grounds of a local business, accompanied by Greenstein.
Nick Dunning, a business owner in the city, said he was initially “very upset and a bit disappointed” in the council’s action.
Dunning said he appreciates that council members Robin Vazquez and Carolyn Cox brought up the issue to the council’s attention but he said public comment should have happened during the previous work session.
Vazquez and Cox were outvoted during the council’s work session on July 27 when they raised a motion to censure Kunkel and Greenstein for the violation of RCW 29A.84.040, which tackles removing or defacing political advertising.
Dunning also mentioned that council member Michael Steadman should have done a better job because it was his opponent’s sign and to really show that it was nothing to do with him and his campaign.
Steadman abstained in the vote to censure because he is running for the same seat as Clouse, the candidate whose sign was removed.
Dunning also pointed out that he understands that Mayor Andy Ryder and Deputy Mayor Malcolm Miller do not want to set a precedent that’s why they voted against the censure but Dunning said it has set a precedent that the council will not hold its peers accountable.
“The community needs better in the future. It deserves better the public trust and our democracy depends on it,” said Dunning.
Resident Spencer Zeman, a candidate for the seat held by Kunkel, echoed the concerns of Dunning, adding that he was “once again disappointed by the conduct of the council.”
Zeman said the call for accountability does not mean that someone should resign or impose any sort of punishment. “If we cannot as a group here hold people accountable for wrong behavior where can we do it? Nowhere is the answer, we must demand better from our leadership,” he said.
Michael Jamison, A 25-year Lacey resident, spoke on behalf of Kunkel, saying he has known and worked with the council member for many years.
“This has got to be a huge misunderstanding,” said Jamison. “Knowing him, I just know that if anything was done, it was not done with any malice or forethought and it was confusion.”
Joanne Fletcher said she also attended the meeting to speak about Kunkel’s character who she had known for about 30 years.
“I felt compelled to be here because I heard the things that were going on and I’m shocked that it's turned into what it's turned into just because of a minor mistake,” said Fletcher. “There's so many other things in this world that are more important to be dealing with than this.”
Scott Goodwin, also a resident of the city, said that the council should not censure Kunkel and Greenstein.
“The action taken was done as a private citizen; he is not acting on behalf of this council,” said Goodwin.
Goodwin added that the motion to censure a fellow council member was uncalled for and unnecessary.
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psterry
I suggest they all give it a rest. There are plenty of mountains already without exaggerating yet another mole hill.
Monday, August 7, 2023 Report this
bobkat
@psterry et al: AMEN!
Tuesday, August 8, 2023 Report this
USA_Ronin
Win or lose, will all the candidates go back and remove all of their signs after the election? -Before Christmas?
Tuesday, August 8, 2023 Report this
johngreen
While I find these two councilor's behavior reprehensible, even more reprehensible is the fact that this type of behavior is becoming acceptable not only in our community but across this nation as well. Does the city of Lacey require a code of conduct for it's councilors and other employees? It sounds like they need one if not. Winning at all costs has become the gold standard for some politicians.
Tuesday, August 8, 2023 Report this
TonyW33
I was last week, and continue to be today, in awe that the Lacey City Council can consider a member of the council breaking a state law is actually just a political issue and not worth considering. Further that the law breaker is also allowed to vote on the issue of censure or not. WOW. We are in a brave new world indeed.
Tuesday, August 8, 2023 Report this
Yeti1981
Careful what you ask for. This mistake (which is all it was) isn't something any candidate in this community should want to highlight. I can name at least one violation of the PDC rules and RCWs that every single candidate does every single election cycle. There really isn't a candidate running that is flawless. Do we really want our local politics turning into a gotchya contest? Also, coincidentally (not really), the two "citizens" cited in this article as critical of the council are the opponents of the councilmembers they're speaking of. So, clearly no political motivations on their part right?!
Tuesday, August 8, 2023 Report this
Yeti1981
Just a clarification on the prior comment. Ed Kunkel and Nic Dunning are opponents and Spencer Zeman and Lenny Greenstein are opponents for the two seats on the council, which the author got wrong/left out as well.
Tuesday, August 8, 2023 Report this
SecondOtter
Molehills, when not taken flattened, have a habit of becoming mountains. If you aren't disturbed by this ''mistake", (it was an intentional act) you're not paying attention.
Tuesday, August 8, 2023 Report this
ejpoleii
It is notable that Dunning and Zeman are opponents of Kunkel and Greenstein. They are in cahoots with Vasquez and Cox. If the citizens of Lacey want a city council patterned after Olympia's, they will vote against Kunkel and Greenstein. Electing Kunkel and Greenstein will at least ensure that there will be some sensible voices speaking for Lacey citizens.
Vote FOR Lenny and Ed in November.
Thursday, August 10, 2023 Report this