Top Bob Ferguson aide resigns following accusations of ‘toxic’ workplace in Governor’s Office

Amid allegations of creating a hostile workplace for women, a top aide to Gov. Bob Ferguson resigned this week, multiple outlets have reported.

According to a letter released by Ferguson’s office, Mike Webb, the governor’s chief strategy officer, stepped down.

“I deeply regret that the allegations of a hostile work environment have created an unhelpful distraction that impacts the team’s ability to do their work, as well as my ability to be effective in the near term,” Webb wrote.

‘Serious concerns’ about Ferguson’s office

The governor’s legislative director, Joyce Bruce, who also resigned recently, cited a toxic work environment allegedly created by Webb, according to those close to the situation, as reported by The Seattle Times. Officially, Bruce said in her resignation letter that it was in her “best professional and personal interest to step away.”

In his resignation letter, Webb defended himself, saying he “made every effort to treat colleagues with civility and to live up to the high standard that you personally set.”

He apologized to staff for ever falling short “of my best self.”

Sen. Yasmin Trudeau (D-Tacoma) told The Times she heard there were “serious concerns” about the governor’s office work environment with former campaign staffers complaining about “a hostile and toxic workplace culture.”

Fergson’s office told The Times it had not received any human resources complaints about Webb.

“This provides the governor a very good opportunity to have a reset with the Legislature,” Lt. Gov. Denny Heck, a Democrat, told the Washington State Standard. “I hope and trust he’ll do so.”

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