King County Council member apologizes for courier condemned as racist

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Kathy Lambert, a member of the SEATTLE King County Council, apologized on Friday for a political direct mail condemned as racist, after supporters of her campaign and a longtime donor withdrew their support.

The Seattle Times reports that Lambert, who faces a difficult re-election after two decades of unopposed candidacies, sent the mail, which describes his opponent as a puppet who will be a buffer to bring Seattle’s radical policies to the Eastside and his black colleague. at the Council, Girmay Zahilay, as a puppeteer.

On Friday morning, the Washington Association of Realtors and its local affiliate canceled their support for Lambert and asked him to return the $ 1,000 they had donated to his campaign.

The Seattle Mariners, who donated $ 500 to the Lamberts campaign ahead of the primary, condemned the mail and said they would now give $ 1,000 to Lamberts opponent Sarah Perry.

Larry Gossett, the local civil rights leader who served with Lambert on county council for 18 years, rescinded his approval, calling his sender simply racist and genuinely bogus.

The Seattle Times editorial board also rescinded its endorsement of Lambert.

I have to apologize for the harm the flyer has caused to board member Zahilay, my colleagues, the public I have long worked for and love and my family, Lambert said. My dedication and my heart are not to hurt, but to serve. This message is certainly not what was expected.

She said she fired her political consultant.

The courier shows Zahilay holding the strings of the puppet, joined by Seattle City Council member Kshama Sawant, Vice President Kamala Harris and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

Zahilay’s face is retouched on a pinstripe suit and a red bow tie.

Zahilay earlier this week denounced the ad as racist and inaccurate, noting that he is not a socialist and that he is not the only county council member to support Perry. But he is the only black member of the county council.

The Associated Press

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