Did Jay Inslee refuse to sit at the same table as Bill Bryant?

In a cellphone video, Washington Governor Jay Inslee appears to refuse to sit down at a recent forum because his Republican opponent Bill Bryant was at the same table. Bryant backs that version of events. However, organizers tell a different story — sort of.

“The governor, who is now here, doesn’t want to occupy the table with Bill,” the moderator says in the video titled “Jay Inslee’s Temper Tantrum.”

“The governor would like a table by himself,” the moderator added. “I propose we sit here until he figures out if he wants to be part of the forum. I don’t know what else to do … I’m not going to make Bill leave … it’s not my fight.”

Bill Bryant: Gov. Jay Inslee didn’t want me talking to him at October debate

The forum was recently organized by the City Club of Tacoma and was moderated by News Tribune Publisher David Zeeck.

Zeeck and Bryant can be seen, and heard, being informed that Inslee wanted to be at the table himself.

“He’s not getting it,” Bryant quickly said.

In the two-minute long video, a woman who identifies herself as the chair of programs addresses the crowd while waiting for Inslee.

“We did have agreements, and right now Governor Inslee is asking for that agreement to be respected,” she said.

“My agreement was to stay here the whole time, I’m not moving,” Bryant says to the moderator.

Bill Bryant’s version

On Thursday, Bryant joined KTTH’s Todd Herman on the air to explain his version of events.

“It’s bizarre,” Bryant said. “This was to be the fourth debate. It was sponsored by the Tacoma City Club and it was not going to be televised.”

“Then about a week or so ago, we were told … it wasn’t going to be a debate; that Governor Inslee didn’t want a debate,” he said. “It was arranged that I would go first, the moderator would ask me questions and the audience would ask me questions, and then Governor Inslee would come and he would be asked questions and then we would answer questions together. That was how it was arranged. Then it was made clear that the governor wasn’t going be there at the beginning.”

Bryant said that Inslee arrived at the event late, so Bryant took the dais and answered his portion of questions. The video was taken as people waited for Inslee to show. Eventually, the governor did sit at the table with the moderator and Bryant.

“It’s clear that I wasn’t supposed to leave but he insisted that he not come out until I did step down,” Bryant said. “Today, they are saying that I refused to leave the dais and that I broke the rules.”

Bryant further claimed that he had emails proving that he was supposed to be sitting at the table the whole time. The Bryant campaign sent MyNorthwest copies of the emails between the City Club of Tacoma. It is clear that the Bryant campaign attempted to clarify the proceedings of the evening. At one point, the club seems to leave the option open as to whether Bryant will stay or go. But it is also stated that he is free to remain at the table with Inslee.

“If Mr. Bryant is more comfortable returning to his table, right next to the presentation area, he is welcome to do so,” an email to the Bryant campaign states, from Ronnie Bush, executive director of the club. “That is what the Inslee campaign preferred. I insisted that Mr. Bryant stay at the table as a panelist.”

The campaign specifically asked if Bryant was to leave the front table.

“Absolutely not,” Bush wrote. “Bill is our guest from start to finish. Gov. Inslee will join him at the table with David Zeeck.”

Bush also added the following comments in her emails with the Bryant campaign:

“Bryant will be filmed, alone, by TVW, and be able to say his piece without interruption,” Bush wrote. “I believe this will be very good for his campaign. Pierce County is known for late voters.”

“…I have run campaigns for 28 years,” Bush adds. “Anytime I can get my candidate in front of the people, I consider it a win.”

Did Jay Inslee really refuse to sit?

It seems, however, there is some confusion as to what happened, even from the club’s point of view. A statement released by the club after the incident refutes the notion that the event was ever supposed to be a debate. It claims that Inslee did not arrive late, rather, that he was expected to arrive when he did after the event started. It also seems to describe a different perspective of the event.

The City Club of Tacoma released this statement following the incident:

This event was never intended to be a debate. This was made clear to both campaigns from the first invitation and in several subsequent telephone calls with each campaign.

The agreed upon procedure regarding the forum was a “back-to-back” forum. Each candidate was to be on the dais separately. Commissioner Bryant was to go first as City Club was informed that Governor Inslee was not able to be present until after 7:30. Both candidates had agreed to this method of presentation and questioning by News Tribune Publisher, David Zeeck. Commissioner Bryant went first. At the conclusion of his questioning he declined to leave the dais. Governor Inslee was informed that Commissioner Bryant had declined to leave the dais and agreed to come on anyway.

The statement bears the names of Executive Director Ronnie Bush, and club President Jack Connelly.

According to the Jay Inslee campaign, the video shows a brief moment from the forum and lacks the full story.

“This is a last gasp of a struggling campaign trying get noticed,” said Jamal Raad with the Inslee campaign.

MyNorthwest has reached out to the City Club of Tacoma for clarification on what the exact agreed upon procedures were. The club has not responded as of deadline.

Follow @https://twitter.com/DyerOxley