Reardon asked to take leave in wake of investigation
»Play Video
EVERETT, Wash. -- The Snohomish County Council voted unanimously Wednesday to ask county executive Aaron Reardon to temporarily step down during an on-going criminal investigation.
All four councilmembers at the regularly-scheduled meeting voted yes that Reardon should go on leave, while a fifth councilmember was not there. A few speakers from the public said asking him to do that is a bad idea.
The probe by the Washington State Patrol into Reardon's travel expenses began last fall after complaints were lodged, shortly before he won re-election to a third term in a bitter race.
Reardon, a Democrat who is married, is also accused of having a long-running affair with a woman who's a county employee.
Reardon has not responded to the accusations against him, but he released a 32-second video statement to the media, in which he makes no reference to what his next move will be.
"I'm focused on the issues that the people in Snohomish County care about," he said on the tape, "and doing the work that matters. Like maintaining a balanced budget without raises, creating jobs and other economic opportunities."
But County Councilman Dave Somers says they have lost the trust of the public in county government.
"We serve the public. They deserve a county government that's focused on serious business... the issues that matter to the public," he said.
Fellow Democrats say they're not calling on Reardon to resign, rather leave office temporarily until troopers complete their investigation.
The council does not have the authority under the Snohomish County charter to place the executive on leave -- he needs to step down on his own.
If Reardon does relinquish his duties, the county's deputy executive would step in.
All four councilmembers at the regularly-scheduled meeting voted yes that Reardon should go on leave, while a fifth councilmember was not there. A few speakers from the public said asking him to do that is a bad idea.
The probe by the Washington State Patrol into Reardon's travel expenses began last fall after complaints were lodged, shortly before he won re-election to a third term in a bitter race.
Reardon, a Democrat who is married, is also accused of having a long-running affair with a woman who's a county employee.
Reardon has not responded to the accusations against him, but he released a 32-second video statement to the media, in which he makes no reference to what his next move will be.
"I'm focused on the issues that the people in Snohomish County care about," he said on the tape, "and doing the work that matters. Like maintaining a balanced budget without raises, creating jobs and other economic opportunities."
But County Councilman Dave Somers says they have lost the trust of the public in county government.
"We serve the public. They deserve a county government that's focused on serious business... the issues that matter to the public," he said.
Fellow Democrats say they're not calling on Reardon to resign, rather leave office temporarily until troopers complete their investigation.
The council does not have the authority under the Snohomish County charter to place the executive on leave -- he needs to step down on his own.
If Reardon does relinquish his duties, the county's deputy executive would step in.
This comment has been deleted
This comment has been deleted
This comment has been deleted