Spokane7
60°Quick links: 2012 graduating seniors • Summer camp guide • Jobs: The Road Ahead • Prep sports • News quiz
Huckleberries Online has received a copy of the letter of apology that Kathy Sims of the Concerned Taxpayers of Kootenai County will read tonight to the Coeur d’Alene City Council. It includes acknowledgement of four violations of the campaign finance laws by her group in the 2007 municipal elections and an apology for those violations. Sims and Tom Macy were behind a last-minute flyer (see above) in the City Council elections that criticized three council incumbents, including two seeking re-election. Sims also has agreed to pay a fine of $2,500. City Attorney Mike Gridley told Huckleberries that he will circulate a news release later today. Meanwhile, you can read Sims letter here.
Update: City Attorney Mike Gridley’s news release
Question: Do you think the city properly pressed its complaint against Kathy Sims, Tom Macy, and Concerned Taxpayers of Kootenai County re: campaign finance violations from the 2007 municipal elections?
D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.
999 W. Riverside, Spokane, WA 99201
P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210
Main switchboard: (509) 459-5000 • (800) 338-8801
Newsroom: (509) 459-5400 • (800) 789-0029
Customer service: (800) 338-8801
© Copyright 2012, The Spokesman-Review
Terms of use • Privacy policy • Copyright policy
Find DFO on Facebook
DFO on Twitter
KeithErickson on May 05 at 2:06 p.m.
My guess is this apology is only being made as a deal with the city to not pursue legal action against Sims and Macy. Isn’t that where things are/were headed? In my experience with Sims back in my newspapering days, she is not somebody who would admit wrongdoing unless something was in it for her. Like avoiding further costly legal action. Shame on Sims and Macy for dragging this out for so long. And double shame for their last-minute antics to begin with.
redman on May 05 at 2:54 p.m.
This is a win for all involved. The city shows class by demanding an apology and by not ratcheting up the political pressure cooker with anything else, Gridley in praticular comes out smelling like a rose. Sims and Macy have to swallow their pride and admit they were wrong. A hard thing for people to do at times. In the end even Sims and Macy show class by providing an honorable apology.
Digger on May 05 at 3:41 p.m.
Do they still have to pay fines?
Phaedrus on May 05 at 8:37 p.m.
In the end even Sims and Macy show class by providing an honorable apology.
Not really. Neither Sims nor Macy had the courage or honor to show up and apologize, instead sending their hired gun to read a weak and mealy-mouthed letter.
spokelooneh on May 05 at 9:37 p.m.
“Not really. Neither Sims nor Macy had the courage or honor to show up and apologize, instead sending their hired gun to read a weak and mealy-mouthed letter.”
-Phaedrus
What a surprise, it was cowardly attack in the first place, and they’re acting cowardly now, by not even showing up, but then that’s standard MO with these folks, “we’re of, and for the PEOPLE” until called onto the carpet for, once again, shady and illegal dealings.
Hypocrites.