January 18, 2011 in News, City

Mager levels libel charge against French

• Print
• Email
• Share

Bonnie Mager
(Full-size photo)

Former Spokane County Commissioner Bonnie Mager on Tuesday announced a Public Disclosure Commission complaint accusing her successor, Al French, of libel.

With exhibits, Mager’s complaint is 107 pages long and covers many of the issues in her race against French. However, Mager’s cover letter focuses on a barrage of e-mails in the week before the Nov. 2 general election.

French said in an e-mail to supporters that Mager was “apparently abusing a (property tax deferral) program designed to assist legitimate members of the agricultural community.”

Some of French’s supporters went a step further and stated incorrectly in e-mails that Mager “falsified” her application for an agriculture-based property tax deferral and “owes more than $7,500 in back property taxes.”

Mager acknowledges no distinction between French and his supporters.

At the time of the e-mails, a Public Disclosure Commission spokeswoman said the state agency doesn’t regulate election e-mails. However, she said Internet-based campaigns are an emerging issue and the PDC would need to review its policies for the future.

French brushed aside Mager’s complaint: “I’m busy doing the work of the county, and that’s what I’m focused on right now. I’m comfortable I did nothing wrong.”

Mager claims without evidence that French got the county Assessor’s Office to “produce false documents that were not public records at all, but rather projections of penalties.”

Actually, Mager and her husband, John, were among 46 property owners who didn’t respond to a request for information and were warned about how much tax they would owe if they failed to respond to a second letter.

The Magers met the deadline and remain in a program that shaved $1,050 off last year’s tax bill on their 40-acre property near Cheney.

Public records show the couple qualified for the farm tax break with evidence that they sold $50 worth of hay last year and that their daughter, Caroline, had agreed to pay $50 a month for each horse they boarded for her.

The Magers said last fall that they were boarding two horses, but sometimes might have three.

11 comments on this story so far. Add yours!

• 

  misjustice on January 18 at 6:34 p.m.

  Is this story complete?

  For example, what is the process for filing a Public Disclosure Commission complaint? Who reviews complaints? Are there any sanctions for violations? Was Ms. Mager personally harassed, ie via her private e-mail or were all e-mails directed to her CC address? What evidence did Mr. French use to make the accusations against Ms. Mager?

  Anyways, many questions…perhaps a follow-up story at some point?

  Thanks.

• 

  lowtechmaster on January 18 at 6:47 p.m.

  Misjustice is right on target, as usual. But libel is libel. Did French encourage his supporters? Have knowledge of their claims? If the allegations are, in fact, true, then French should resign. I, too, look ahead to a follow-up story!

• 

  carolynl on January 18 at 6:48 p.m.

  Hey Ms.J: We just put a tagline at the end of the story. More is coming …

• 

  misjustice on January 18 at 6:52 p.m.

  Thanks, Carolyn! Much appreciated!
  ; )

• 

  carolynl on January 18 at 7:30 p.m.

  Here’s the updated version. I suspect we’ll write more as the allegations make their way through officialdom.

• 

  Dazzeetrader11 on January 18 at 7:32 p.m.

  BAWK BAWK BAWK!!! “apparently” is the operant word. It appeared to be the case and still does. He didn’t accuse her of anything. He’ll get no fine. Nothing happened that wasn’t true. Boonie claimed an agriculture exemption she didn’t deserve and , being a commissioner, push it on the people at the County. It’s an abuse of her power.

  Best part is that she hasn’t turned a spade of dirt nor grown anything on her property.ever! What’s seriously funny is that she summoned Craig to get her in the paper and John Craig actually showed up and gave the Bonnie an audience.

  Somebody should remember do file a report on when she maligned Phil Harris over the nepotism charge that nobody could find. She lied about him to get her 1 and only term. Pathetic.Live by the sword and die by the sword Bonnie. And, parenthetically, she STILL is way behind of her taxes!

  She’s already said she’s running again next time . This is a silly attempt to keep her face in the news. It’s over Bonnie…time to run along. This action is disgraceful and a waste of time. Never stopped her before though.

• 

  misjustice on January 18 at 8:11 p.m.

  Daisy, can you ever make a post that doesn’t have a death analogy?

  Seriously? Can you, old gal? It’s troubling, especially in light of recent deaths.

• 

  mistykira on January 18 at 10:39 p.m.

  Daisy or is it David, or perhaps Pam?
  Maybe you should get out of the city and come on down to the country where the grass that grows between the rocks has been good for hay and pasture for generation after generation. But I suppose folks like you would rather see pavement than anything natural and so would like to tax us farm folks off our land.

• 

  Dazzeetrader11 on January 18 at 11:16 p.m.

  I don’t have an analogy J. And what’s this about death? I don’t know…nor do you…know what you’re talking about.

  Back to the story……stick to the story..if you can focus long enough…. And who knows what misty kira’s talking about. Does she?

  J… the story is a way of besmirching someone. A spoiled sport story. Perhaps she cold give French a month or two on the job since she got beat and beat handily. Libs don’t like getting beat and losing their jobs. And all it was…was a job…as in making money…for Bonnie. She did nothing but complain for four years. And it looks like she still is in her complain mode.

  If she would get a job, her bile might fade away. Usually it does when money is given to them. The story and Mager’s complaints are fantasy. It does keep her in the news though….size 12?? J…say it ain’t so!! That’s BIG! More clean green exercise and less sedentary blogging might help dear.

• 

  drywitt99 on January 19 at 12:20 a.m.

  Daisy:

  With an anti-personel explosive device being planted in the path of a parade to honor a slain civil rights leader, its nice to see you maintain your conservative priorities….focusing on a pissing contest between a couple of local pols.

  You go girl!

• 

  yellowcat on January 20 at 1:04 a.m.

  I am having trouble following the thread of this story. Al French has a history of dishonesty and has been called up on ethics charges at least a couple of times. Bonnie Mager has every right to protect all of us from the danger of candidates thinking they can get away with libel and slander in order to win an election. If no one stands up and holds him accountable, it will get worse and the election process will just be one big sham with only degenerates willing to run. The story seemed to get off track with some discussion of open space criteria. Bonnie was vetted by the Assessor’s office and AL knew he was lying both about Jeff Holy and Bonnie Mager but that didn’t stop him. Winning seemed the only goal. Shame on him and too bad for Spokane County.