A panel that will
decide whether Spokane, Wash., mayor James West
violated city policies in his dealings with young men he met
in a gay chat room plans to read tens of thousands of
pages of e-mail. Retired Spokane County superior court
judge Harold "Pete" Clarke will chair the panel
appointed by city attorney Mike Connelly. The committee,
which met for an organizational session Friday, will report
to the city council and deputy mayor. The panel is
seeking a fifth member in the wake of Eastern
Washington University professor Tom Trulove's decision
not to serve for personal reasons.
Last month The Spokesman-Review began
publishing articles alleging that West had used his
city-owned computer to enter a gay Internet chat room
and offer City Hall jobs and perks to men he met
there. The newspaper also reported allegations that West
sexually abused two boys decades ago. West has also been
accused of sexually harassing an openly gay man he
recommended for a position on the city's Human Rights Commission.
The mayor, who has denied sexually abusing boys
and any wrongdoing in his internship programs but
acknowledged having affairs with adult men, has
refused calls to step down. West is also the subject of a
separate Department of Justice inquiry into whether
federal laws may have been broken.
The city panel can review documents and
interview employees to determine whether West
committed acts or omissions through computer use or hiring
practices that violated city policies or laws, Clarke said.
Connelly told the committee members they will have
access to e-mail from West's office as well as from
other city administrators and himself. He gave the panel
copies of city policies on computer use, e-mails,
harassment, and discrimination.
Connelly said there are about 12,000 mayoral
e-mails, but media public records requests cover
approximately 50,000-60,000 pages. The panel will go
through thick binders containing copies of the same e-mails
reporters are searching under public records requests.
Besides Clarke, committee members include
retired judge Philip Thompson, university professor
Michael Stebbins, and private lawyer Nancy Isserlis.
Stebbins and Isserlis were out of town but joined the panel
by teleconference Friday.
Members of the panel defended its authority.
"We're here because the city attorney asked us to be
part of an investigative panel," Clarke said as the
meeting began.
Connelly, who serves at the pleasure of the
mayor, called the situation "delicate" and said
threats of lawsuits have come from all sides, adding,
however, "I think it's an appropriate course of action."
Under the city's mayor-council charter, West is,
essentially, a chief executive officer. He cannot be
removed from office except by a recall vote. West's
lawyers have said the mayor is still considering whether to
file a state supreme court appeal of a judge's ruling that a
recall can proceed to the signature-gathering stage.
(AP)