reardon.jpg
Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon has reportedly announced his resignation. (Image courtesy Facebook - Aaron Reardon)

Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon resigns

BY KIRO Radio Staff  on February 21, 2013 @ 8:24 am (Updated: 6:17 pm - 2/21/13 )

Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon resigned Thursday at the end of his "state of the county" speech, saying his family has suffered enough from the political controversy surrounding his office.

"I tender my resignation as Snohomish County Executive effective May 31, 2013," announced Reardon.

The embattled county leader said his last day will be May 31 because he wants to give the Democratic Party enough time to pick his replacement.

The county executive's third term was set to end Jan. 2016, but Reardon has recently found himself at the center of another controversy involving reports of staffers making public records requests and taking other actions targeting the executive's political enemies.

"As all of you are aware, I have been the subject of recent media reports alleging, once again, misconduct by those working in the Executive Office," said Reardon. "These allegations are a continuation of efforts by groups who oppose me and who rely upon false allegations in order to discredit me and undermine my ability to discharge my duties as your Snohomish County Executive."

A statement last week from Reardon said a member of his staff was behind the public records requests. The statement said the staffer's actions were his own and not at Reardon's direction.

Aliases and various identities were created for the records requests, The Daily Herald reported last week. Anonymous web pages, fake Twitter accounts and spoof email addresses were used to undermine Reardon critics.

On Wednesday, the Snohomish County Council removed some authority from his office following the reports regarding Reardon's staff.

Reardon was also previously investigated by the Washington State Patrol based on accusations that he used country resources on his campaign and while having an affair. Reardon was not charged and said the allegations against him were false.

"That investigation came to an end when the Island County Prosecutor concluded that I had committed no crimes and exonerated me," said Reardon. "Subsequently two recall petitions have been filed against me and both of those recall petitions have been dismissed. Unfortunately, I recently learned that a third recall petition will soon be filed."

Reardon said Thursday, "enough is enough."

"It is impossible for me to describe to you the emotional and financial toll these relentless attacks have taken on my wife, my family and me. My wife and I have been required to spend tens of thousands of dollars on legal fees in order to defend against false and scurrilous allegations," said Reardon.

"These false allegations have also taken a tremendous toll on my marriage and our family life. And, candidly, I don't know how much a family can take or should take. And, the time I have had to spend addressing the myriad of false allegations has distracted me from doing my job as your County Executive."

Reardon closed by announcing his resignation and requesting an independent investigation of allegations made against himself and his staff.

You might also be interested in:

Dori Monson: Reardon's resignation an opportunity to establish integrity

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

KIRO Radio Staff, Staff report
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Comments (29)


  • Add A Comment

  • RobertK wrote...
    Once again KIRO is showing their bias
    February 21, 2013 8:02 am
    Last week a KIRO reporter said it was an "oversight" when the political affiliation of a Democrat was left out of an embarrassing article. The "journolist"(sic), posted to the said article in his defense and we all accepted his explanation. Fast forward a week and now we see Democrat Bad Boy Aaron is resigning. No where in the article is there any mention of Bad Boy Aaron being a Democrat poster boy!?!?!? Save your explanations this time KIRO, it will fall on deaf ears. Your actions betray your words. Be honest...is this a rule you learn in "j" school or is it post graduate doctrine not to identify Democrats in embarrassing situations? You so-called journolists, (sic), and editors should all be fired or retrained for such blatant and corrupt omissions of fact.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • R L M 456 wrote...
    RobertK- You owe any real journalist an apology
    February 21, 2013 8:16 am
    All anyone on MyNorthwest.com is capable of is

    "Copy and Paste" from aol.com

    Journalist School for most of them ended in the 6th grade

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • newsguysully wrote...
    Those that can't complain
    February 21, 2013 8:20 am
    Easy to criticize. Not easy to do this job. If you look at any of the articles I write for MYNW, I never put in the party affiliation. Look at all the legislative articles, but why would you do the work. Just complain and make accusations anonymously. Reporter, Chris Sullivan, KIRO Radio.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Keitho wrote...
    Another Dem sleezebag
    February 21, 2013 8:08 am
    At least this one had the dignity to quit. Other Dems like Ted Kennedy, Bill Clinton, Barney frank, Chris Dodd all rode this kind of sleezy behavior all the way to the top.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Saltchucker wrote...
    There's an admission of guilt!
    February 21, 2013 8:15 am
    Only a guilty coward slinks away with their tail between their legs like this.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • shark75 wrote...
    Chris Sullivan owned up to that last week
    February 21, 2013 8:22 am
    It is a definite pattern however. "Republican" in the headline and first paragraph, a few other times in the article is optional. "Democrat" not to be mentioned before the third paragraph if it is mentioned AT ALL.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • shark75 wrote...
    PS: Reardon you are a Piece O' Shiite
    February 21, 2013 8:24 am
    Now go eat a bottle of sleeping pills or something...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mnpat wrote...
    "The embattled county leader said his last day will be May 31 because he wants to give the Democratic Party enough time to pick his replacement. "
    February 21, 2013 9:15 am
    Living in Snohomish County, I would prefer an election verus a political party selection.....I'm pretty sure others would agree.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • GPratt wrote...
    RE: Election vs. Party Selection
    February 21, 2013 11:23 am
    So, to educate the public on how it works... The appointment only lasts until the next election. As he resigned after the filing period for this year ended, the appointment would last until the election the following year. Whomever is appointed would have to run in 2014 to hold onto the position until the end of the original term. A big part of why we don't hold an additional election and wait until the next scheduled one is simply dollars. The party of the current office holder gets together an nominates three people for consideration by the County Council. The council decides who ultimately gets the appointment. Who in the party decides on the names? (This is the Democratic Party selection that Reardon is referring to.) It is the Precinct Committee Officers. There can be one of these per precinct. To become one, you have to file for election. If you are the only person in your precinct who files for your party, you are automatically elected (this changed in the last election - previously it was on the ballot regardless if you were the only filer). If there are multiple filers, the position appears on the ballot, way down at the bottom. So... even though the party is selecting the nominees to fill out the term, the individuals who are making the selection had to file for election to be the representative for their precinct in the party's decision making.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • dori monson fan wrote...
    he's been like the T.O. of snohomish county
    February 21, 2013 9:32 am
    just a big distracting cancer. he's right, enough is enough! don't let the door hit you in the reardon!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • clevesside wrote...
    Finally reason kicks in.....
    February 21, 2013 10:17 am
    ....and this political "guerilla war" can close, hopefully. Not sure whose "enemies" are whose here, but Reardon does have had a questionable and dubiously motivated staff surrounding him, to me. If he'd served his job diligently instead of focusing on the wrong reasons for being in office (like making a career out of it at expense of serving constituents), wouldn't be commenting on this now.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Jerry-Lynnwood wrote...
    Why did it ....
    February 21, 2013 12:03 pm
    ... take so long. This guy had CROOK writen all over him! When will people learn - ????
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Michael Shouse wrote...
    Aaron Reardon
    February 21, 2013 12:52 pm
    So sorry that Aaron Reardon is resigning because of what his family is going through! What about what you were putting your family through with your sleazy extramarital affair (on the taxpayers' dime)?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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