‘She’s running for office and from accountability’: Spike says ghosting DUI crash victim is a character issue for Tacoma House candidate

A Tacoma man whose truck was wrecked when Democratic Tacoma House candidate Krista Perez allegedly plowed into a row of parked cars said nobody from her campaign, her insurer, or her legal team has contacted him six days after the crash, according to Seattle Red 770 AM.

Jake Skorheim and Spike O’Neill, co-hosts of “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio, said the lack of response turns what could have been a forgivable mistake into a serious character issue for a candidate asking voters to trust her with public office.

“Any sympathy or any grace that I was giving her, for being able to just make a mistake that anybody can make, just completely goes out the window when I find out that she’s not returning the calls of the cars that she allegedly hit,” Jake said.

“I think it speaks to character at that point,” Spike added.

Perez was charged with driving under the influence on Aug. 13 in Tacoma Municipal Court after allegedly crashing into four parked cars on South G Street shortly after midnight on Aug. 11, according to Seattle Red 770 AM. The charge carried a refusal enhancement after police said she failed to produce a usable breath sample on three attempts.

Don McIntyre, who had a 1989 Chevrolet pickup parked outside his apartment, is one of at least four vehicle owners left holding the bill, Seattle Red 770 AM reported.

Jake says Tacoma House candidate crossed into ‘jerk category’

Jake argued refusing to return calls crosses into a different category entirely.

“When you, who’s running for political office, then decide, ‘I’m not going to even return calls to these people who I, allegedly, damaged their vehicles’ — if your insurance company is also not returning any of those calls — to me, at that point, you’re crossing over into jerk category,” Jake said.

Spike says Perez is missing a chance to show leadership

Spike said Perez had an opportunity to turn the situation around by owning the mistake publicly and being proactive with the victims.

“There’s an opportunity here, if indeed she was drinking and driving, to say, ‘Hey, look, I made a mistake. It’s a horrible idea. No one should do that. Let me speak to you about what I’ve learned from this’ and move forward with a positive message,” Spike said.

Spike noted the contrast between campaigning for public trust and ducking accountability for a crash that left real people scrambling.

“She’s got an opportunity to be accountable, to be responsible, to show that she cares about the constituency and accountability for her own actions, and she’s missing the boat here,” Spike said.

Breathalyzer failure raises more questions

Jake and Spike also discussed Perez’s failure to provide a usable breath sample, with Jake questioning whether it was intentional.

“Do you think that’s somebody attempting to game the technology?” Jake asked.

“Probably so,” Spike responded.

Spike acknowledged the failed breathalyzer may benefit Perez legally but said the political damage is done.

“From a legal perspective, it may be beneficial to her,” Spike said. “From a public opinion perspective, from a political perspective …”

Spike summed it up in one sentence.

“She’s running for office and from accountability,” Spike said.

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to “The Jake and Spike Show” weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3