Former mayor of Valley fined for illegal e-mail

Former Spokane Valley Mayor Mike DeVleming will pay a $50 civil fine for illegally using city computer equipment to campaign for Republican Dino Rossi in early 2004.

The state Public Disclosure Commission fined DeVleming $150 on Thursday, but suspended $100, for e-mails he sent out on his city-owned computer when he was trying to find supporters willing to buy tickets to a Rossi campaign breakfast.

DeVleming was a “table captain” for the fund-raiser and sent computer messages to his administrative assistant and two campaign consultants, looking for help in finding nine people to buy $150 tickets that would fill the table.

“I am trying to find 9 folks who are willing to pay $150 for breakfast at the Davenport. Any ideas????” he asked in one message to his assistant.

A total of 14 messages, many with a subject line “Rossi for Governor – Spokane fundraiser,” surfaced when The Spokesman-Review obtained all e-mails from DeVleming and other members of the newly formed City Council under the state’s public records law. Deputy City Attorney Cary Driskell, who sorted the e-mail messages before they were released, told the council such actions violated the law.

“I realized I’d made a mistake. We all learned from it,” said DeVleming, who did not contest the case with the commission. The maximum penalty he faced was $2,500.

Council members have since received a memo from Driskell on what’s allowed and what is forbidden under state law, DeVleming said.

Rossi ultimately lost a close election contest to Democrat Christine Gregoire by 129 votes in the hand recount of all the state’s ballots.

Chosen as Spokane Valley’s first mayor by the new council in 2002, DeVleming opted not to seek a reappointment to that spot last fall to spend more time with his family. He remains on the council.