Embattled Snohomish Co. exec Reardon resigns from post
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EVERETT, Wash. - Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon announced Thursday he is resigning from his post at the end of May following months of controversy over an alleged affair and use of staff for inappropriate activities.
Reardon, who was elected to a third term in 2011, made the unexpected announcement at a breakfast meeting in which he delivered the annual "state of the county" address. Reardon also called for an independent investigation of himself and his staff.
He later confirmed his resignation through a news release.
He said he has been the target of allegations since the last election campaign, and made the decision to resign due to the "emotional and financial toll these relentless attacks have taken on my wife, my family and me."
"My wife and I have been required to spend tens of thousands of dollars on legal fees in order to defend against false and scurrilous allegations," he said. "These false allegations have also taken a tremendous toll on my marriage and our family life."
"Enough is enough," he said.
During his term as the county's top executive official, Reardon has been accused of using taxpayer's money for out-of-town trysts with a woman who said she was Reardon's mistress, off and on, for the last six years.
A Washington State Patrol investigation into those accusations produced a 13,000-page investigative report that ultimately found only one questionable charge - an unaccounted $6 cab fare.
Afterward, the alleged mistress at the center of the affair, Snohomish County employee Tami Dutton, said the investigation didn't go far enough.
Then came disclosures about links between Reardon staffers and public records requests and other actions targeting the executive's political opponents.
The Snohomish County Council voted unanimously this week to remove Reardon's control of operation of the county's computers and other technology after those disclosures.
Reardon also was the target of two recall petitions that were ultimately were dismissed by the courts. He said Thursday he had learned that a third recall petition was in the works.
State Rep. Mike Hope, who ran against Reardon in the 2011 election, said he was "quite shocked" to hear about Reardon's resignation, but called it a "good step in the right direction for Snohomish County."
Hope said he believes the recent revelations about Reardon's staff "digging up dirt" on political opponents was the last straw that led to his decision.
"Over the last few days, some of the things I've read about with some of his staff, you know, working and digging up dirt and using it as a way to intimidate and harass people, and I think that's probably what led to this," Hope said.
Reardon, who was elected to a third term in 2011, made the unexpected announcement at a breakfast meeting in which he delivered the annual "state of the county" address. Reardon also called for an independent investigation of himself and his staff.
He later confirmed his resignation through a news release.
He said he has been the target of allegations since the last election campaign, and made the decision to resign due to the "emotional and financial toll these relentless attacks have taken on my wife, my family and me."
"My wife and I have been required to spend tens of thousands of dollars on legal fees in order to defend against false and scurrilous allegations," he said. "These false allegations have also taken a tremendous toll on my marriage and our family life."
"Enough is enough," he said.
During his term as the county's top executive official, Reardon has been accused of using taxpayer's money for out-of-town trysts with a woman who said she was Reardon's mistress, off and on, for the last six years.
A Washington State Patrol investigation into those accusations produced a 13,000-page investigative report that ultimately found only one questionable charge - an unaccounted $6 cab fare.
Afterward, the alleged mistress at the center of the affair, Snohomish County employee Tami Dutton, said the investigation didn't go far enough.
Then came disclosures about links between Reardon staffers and public records requests and other actions targeting the executive's political opponents.
The Snohomish County Council voted unanimously this week to remove Reardon's control of operation of the county's computers and other technology after those disclosures.
Reardon also was the target of two recall petitions that were ultimately were dismissed by the courts. He said Thursday he had learned that a third recall petition was in the works.
State Rep. Mike Hope, who ran against Reardon in the 2011 election, said he was "quite shocked" to hear about Reardon's resignation, but called it a "good step in the right direction for Snohomish County."
Hope said he believes the recent revelations about Reardon's staff "digging up dirt" on political opponents was the last straw that led to his decision.
"Over the last few days, some of the things I've read about with some of his staff, you know, working and digging up dirt and using it as a way to intimidate and harass people, and I think that's probably what led to this," Hope said.
@JustAnotherMo @komonews Seattle Times writer defended not naming Reardon's party : https://t.co/sEMuctbjau
Buh Bye Reardon go fight it out with your wife in the kitchen. Perhaps she will hit you over the head with a cast iron skillet. Seriously, way too much drama for a public servant. Something fishy about the FOIL requests, someone is looking for something and no doubt they will find it. Now onto a special election that will no doubt cost millions.
Good By!
Donât know anything about this case either way but â if the WSP did a 13,000 page investigative report, all to discover only an unaccounted $6 cab fare and Ms. Dutton said the investigation didnât go far enough â just who is doing what to whom?
Meanwhile the cops have spent the last 2-months and countless thousands of dollars and investigating Bikini Baristas.
About time!
Ha ha ha ha. I'm amazed that this tool managed to get re-elected. Bye bye Aaron. Don't let the door hit ya, and don't bother trying to tell everyone about how innocent you are. It's a waste of breath...
The Everett Herald has done an in-depth investigation into the goings on by Reardon, Hulten, and Rudicil over the past few years. Go to herald.net and read the investigative reports for yourselves if you believe this is only about adultery--it is not.
Typical politician ---- about 10 layers below a used car salesman. All fraudulent scum bags!
My biggest concern is what will he do in the next three months until he actually resigns. Most places if someone resigns they are escorted off the premises immediately.
Sounds to me like Ms.Dutton is a woman scorned. I do not condone what Mr. Reardon did or didn't do, but hell Lady, what are you expecting to get out of all of this?? Kiss & Tell?? sheesh.... You ought to be ashamed for allowing yourself to be put in the position in the 1st place!!
@blobux She's just a small part of what makes Reardon slime. She's not the reason he's resigning, she's part of it yes, but if he didn't step down or loose the election with the affair being made public, it certainly isn't the ONLY reason he's leaving now.
I will miss Aaron and all his drama.Â
@SimplyJD I won't!
I could care less about the cheating, let his wife sort that out and he who is without sin on this thread cast the 1st stone. But Reardon just kept on getting shadier at every turn, this is long past due. And i voted for the guy!
@thatsjarrod2 Just how much less could you care.
Mike Hope got screwed, every single mindless idiot that voted for this guy because he had a D next to his name should have there voting rights taken away for life.
@hinterland Mike Hope is no angel and has quite a bit of political baggage weighing him down.
@Furd @hinterland Please explain this baggage , in detail.
This person is totally lacking in morales, and truly believes he is king of the world. He had an afair (with the same woman) when he was in the state senate and his wife was pregnant with his first child.   He came to Snohomish Co with the attitude that it was just a stepping stone to a higher office, and made it quite clear to the employees that they were nothing in his eyes. He has no appreciation for the many, many, many hard working employees who put in 40, 50, 60 hr weeks (at no OT) to do the right job for the citizens. They continue to do the best job they can, in spite of furloughs, pay freezes and layoffs. but he doesn't appreciatd that. He brought in Hultenand Rudicil to do exactly what they did. By the way, his former Admin Assistant made only about 3/4 of what Rudicil makes - because she wouldn't do his dirty work, and she is a woman! Perhaps now the county government employees can begin to heal. Too many were painted with the same broad buruh as Reardon, and didn't deserve it.
Finally! I thought we'd never be rid of him!
What you get when unions elect the politicians. No vetting, just D by the name. This guy should have never been there.
I find Aaron resigning disturbing and understandable.  It seems like any idiot can make a claim and then our elected officials have to spend all their time and money in defending it.  Actions like this sadden me because it effectively over rides my constitutional right to vote in a person to do a job as my elected official. Â
I am proud of Aaron and his lovely family for sticking it out as long as he did.  This was clearly a right wing political attack against Aaron and his family to pressure him out of office.  It was not enough that the prosecutor did not find any thing to charge Aaron with but the pressure of the press and the right wing fanatics kept pushing. Â
Well you think you have won but we have all lost a good man who helped our county a great deal. Â Hence, why he was continued to be voted into office even after all this garbage was heaped upon him. Â My love and my best wishes go with you Aaron. Â Thank you.
@None Nope. If his affair didn't cost him the previous election, the voters apparently forgave him for his marital indescretions. He had a seat in politics after the votes were counted. My guess is that Mr Reardon had other secrets that were going to come out. He was in charge of IT and they cut him off and announced they wanted to do some investigating to see what he had been doing there. Then he announces he's resigning? Not over the affair as he managed to win reelection long after that came out.
I too have a statement for Reardon that ends with 'you'. I'd be happy to share it with everyone however I'm not allowed to use that word in this forum. I'll give you a hint, it isn't 'thank'.
@None I voted for him, I am not Right Wing, and he should have resigned months ago. He is an Embarrassment to every citizen in the county no matter what political color.
What makes you think this was a right wing attack? I certainly applaud the reporter that challenged him about these issues that came from HIS administration under HIS control. What the rest of us are sick and tired of is the integrity of our elected offices always being compromised and the officials never being held accountable for their actions or responsibities.
Right wing attacks? Hmm.....looks like the left is just as guilty my friend.
FINALLY.
This guy blew it. During the height of the meltdown he at least publicly was looking pretty good. Snohomish County kept budgets more realistic and no employees needed to be laid-off - although there were furlough days to meet the budgets. Compared to other area counties, it was looking good. I noticed he was getting a ton of TV time (positive) and I thought to myself, "this guy is setting himself up for a run for bigger office."
Ya - all smoke and mirrors, like every other lying dirt bag politician out there regardless of party. We get to vote for the two biggest losers willing to go through the glare of public spectacle and have buried the dead bodies behind them (metaphorically speaking) so deep, that to find the skeletons in their closets you have to dig past the forgotten Christmas presents hidden two years ago.
I note that there is NO party affiliation listed....
@Woodswalker For either politician mentioned - what's your point?
What an a** for attempting to blame the public for his family's troubles! He's the one who had an affair on company time and without a doubt, approved of the antics of his staff! I was flabbergasted when he was re-elected in the first place, knowing all the shady deals and other questionable ethics of his administration! He shouldn't resign, the people should demand he be fired!!! No bennies, no golden handshake...in fact, if the county has any scruples, they will continue the investigations and frankly, he should be charged for his wrong doing!
It's about time!
"The Snohomish County Council voted unanimously this week to remove Reardon's control of operation of the county's computers and other technology after those disclosures." I'm thinking that due diligence was conducted in the extreme for this decision to be exercised. Considering the recent investigations around the misuse of County funds etc. They must have been confident beyond a doubt. That said.... this guy certainly is not without some sort of misdeeds. Narcissism knows no bounds.
The investigation may show he was the one being harassed. Dont trust the press to be anthing but sensational.
@memory9Â Ha ha ha ha ha... That's funny.
Thank God Good Riddance
@Eharper I sincerely doubt that god had anything to do with his resignation but I agree with the good riddance part.
"These false allegations have also taken a tremendous toll on my marriage and our family life."
I bet they have, but not in the way he is saying!
He should have resigned from the election!Â
@SoTweetie You don't think that people have a right to vote in a person of their choice?  Clearly this crap has been going around about Aaron for years and yet twice he was re-elected so the public may not be as stupid as you seem to infer about their ability to choose an elected official.
@None The inference you've suggested is incorrect.
@SoTweetie @None Because I wanted him to run for the third term and supported him.  So, although it would have been easier for his opponents if he had not ran for a third term, I was hopeful that after the prosecutor not pressing charges would have been enough to stop this stupid hype.
 Sorry  if I offended you....wasn't directed solely at you...I am just frustrated at all of this.  So, my apologies.  Thank you.
If a WSP investigation found nothing on him, and he's calling for an independent investigation of himself, he's either really good at hiding things, or has the worst political enemies ever.
@Dredd57Â Â Dredd, this is so common at all levels. Â Look at Clinton and the 7 year senate investigation. Â I would like any one of us try to stand up to that kind of investigation. Â Aaron was a good man who because of the on going political discontent by the right side, he fought a good battle as long as he could. Â I applaud him for that. Â It is really sad. Â We want good people to run our country, but so much crap is heaped on him or her it is a wonder we can do anything anymore......we pay them to do a job...let us let them do it.....
I agree with "We pay them to do a job". There was one thing you left out. How about we pay them to do a job but do it with integrity regardless of what party is elected. They all lie and they all cheat the system. Key ingredient? Arrogance.
Humm, I guess the only left to be said about Reardon don't let the door hit ya on the way out...
@Windowseat  You clearly just want to believe media hype.....so sad...on any given day, you can read twenty different opinions and thoughts of "Truth" on any subject, including this one...depending the medium you choose.
Knowing Aaron personally and who he is as a person, I am disgusted that a few individuals would go to this extreme to smear his name- SAD. I have only known the extremely professional Aaron(while in office) and his personal life is frankly, NONE of our business.
Actually it does. They day they put themselves up on a stage promoting their resume is when everything becomes public business. Integrity covers business and personal. Its politics and thats how the game is played. I don't like it but someday we all might get lucky and elect a politician that has morals, integrity, and honesty.
I want to see a no BS man/woman step up and say like it is and forget about everything being about political wins.
@Aimee Mather-Taber It became our business when our tax dollars started funding his sexual exploits.
@SoTweetie Apparently you missed the part of the story where the WSP investigation (apparently a thorough one at 13,000 pages) and only found 1 questionable charge which was a $6 cab fare receipt. That would indicate that your tax dollars were not funding his sexual exploits.
@SoTweetie  Well if thats what Tamara says, then by god it must be true. I guess the WSP was in on the conspiracy as well.
@Surveyor1
"Tamara Dutton said she has known Reardon for more than 20 years, and admitted that she accompanied him on multiple taxpayer funded trips during which he conducted little or no county business."
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/kcpq-aaron-reardons-alleged-mistress-comes-forward-20111117,0,2121268.story
@SoTweetie @Aimee Mather-Taber And we pay his salary he works for Us the taxpayer