King County Prosecuting Attorney Norm Maleng filed charges in the "Strippergate" scandal yesterday. Timothy Burgess' op-ed in the Times this morning says there's even more to this case that should be revealed: "Public deserves to know the dirty details of "Strippergate"". Yes, we do.
But as inexcusable as this particular scandal is, it's relatively insignificant in comparison to a much larger pattern of public corruption. Yet because Strippergate involves a sleazy unpopular business, it's easier for ossified politicians and lazy journalists to fixate on this issue instead of going after the more serious issues -- like the sewer of cash (often illegal, but seldom enforced) that flows from the public treasury to mandatory union dues for government employees to campaign contributions (mostly for Democrats) that buys legislation that is increasingly favorable to public employee unions. Then there's the 2004 election that was unlawfully certified on the basis of false documents and under the oversight of the County Prosecutor's Office no less.
What impact did the foul Strippergate campaign contributions ultimately have? Almost none. Two of the incumbent candidates who received the contributions were voted out of office anyway and the third won only because his opponent was an admitted wife-beater.
I commend Norm Maleng for taking a tough position here:
Maleng said the state's campaign-reporting laws, which carry civil sanctions for filing false finance reports, should be strengthened with criminal penalties.I hope the governor and the legislature will devise appropriate criminal penalties for the Washington State Democratic Central Committee, whose campaign finance reports are routinely late and for whom fines are merely a cost of doing business. I also hope that Maleng will apply his concern for the Public Disclosure Act to ensure that other county agencies comply with the Act, instead of providing cover to flagrantly violate it. Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at July 13, 2005 10:47 AM | Email ThisHe urged state legislators to add such penalties to the 1972 Public Disclosure Act, saying, "modifying the act will better ensure our history and culture of fairness and integrity in our public offices and institutions."
Kate Lykins Brown, a spokeswoman for Gov. Christine Gregoire, said the governor's staff had been in contact with Maleng's office and would "look at the Public Disclosure Act to do what's needed to strengthen it."
Perhaps it is only 'the little people' who are subjected to such.
Posted by: Michele on July 13, 2005 11:07 AMIf there was any indication that the members of the canvassing board knew of the tallying and verification problems, then every member of the board might be subject to a charge of filing a false affadavit. Whether criminal penalties might be appropriate or not, an attorney would likely be the subject of sanctions by the state bar.
Maleng cannot appear to be unsupportive of his subordinates, so it may be that he is unwilling to open the elections can-of-worms for fear that it might adversely impact his staff. Basically, he doesn't know where the trail will lead once he steps onto it.
Posted by: MIMike on July 13, 2005 11:26 AMIt seems to me that Norm Maleng could care less about rooting out political corruption whether it be in the Elections department or on the Seattle City Council.
Just call me disgusted, really disgusted! Particularly when I recall voting for Maleng numerous times.
Naccarato is and has been and still is closely connected to certain Tacoma/Pierce politicians, as I said 'follow the money.' He consorts with convicted felons (arson and racketeers). If it walks like a duck, and talks like a duck and hangs out with other ducks..... .... ... .. .
Posted by: JDH on July 13, 2005 12:30 PMMaleng must be in someone's pocket....just like every other major King County/Seattle official.
Why would he half-heartedly pursue charges against a fraction of the offenders in this stripclub case - while at the same time completely ignore ALL of the corruption that has been plaguing King County? The corruption from Ron Sims is beginning to seep out of the sewers now.... His years of payoffs, rigged documents, fraud, and intimidation/slander tactics are now surfacing.....
Perhaps King County's corruption is too big for Malengs department to handle! Perhaps King County does indeed qualify for a federal Rico investigation?
Posted by: Deborah on July 13, 2005 08:18 PMSince when is King County and its prosector worried about the rule of law? And what's this about maliciously motivated players?
Like say, Dean Logan,Dan Satteberg,Bill Huennekens and Nicole way?
This is truly the most hypocritical bunch I have seen since Ted Kennedy started demanding ethics be followed.