Kshama Sawant challenger criticizes council member leaving town

Being absent from a Seattle City Council meeting to host a fundraising party in New York runs contradictory to what Kshama Sawant is all about, one of her opponents says.

Sawant skipped a meeting focused on Mayor Ed Murray’s transportation levy, which included a presentation on equity, according to city council minutes.

Related: Urban League CEO challenges Kshama Sawant for city council position

Skipping that meeting contradicts Sawant’s platform of working for the People of Seattle, Pamela Banks told KIRO Radio’s Jason Rantz.

Banks is one of four people running against Sawant and is her biggest financial challenger, according to The Seattle Times.

“She is a sitting city council woman,” Banks told Rantz. “We’re paying her to be present and to do her job.”

True, but Nick Licata was also absent from the meeting, Rantz pointed out. On top of that, the meeting was recorded and included a presentation Sawant can review if she needs to in order to catch up, he said.

“But I think if you look at missed meetings for council members, I believe she is in the top two,” Banks responded. “It’s a pattern of behavior … I don’t think that’s a good thing for our city.”

Sawant’s fundraiser raised about $9,000, according to her campaign manager.