Judge: Effort to recall Kennewick councilman can proceed

KENNEWICK – A judge says an effort to recall a Kennewick city councilman can proceed on a single count.

The Tri-City Herald reported that Benton County Superior Court judge Bruce Spanner on Friday dismissed six of the seven proposed charges against Councilman Steve Young, but he said one of the charges – an alleged violation of campaign law – can go forward.

The remaining charge claims that Young violated campaign law by using his office to forward, to a city employee, an email that could be perceived as a solicitation for a contribution on behalf of Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse.

The judge dismissed charges that mostly related to a civil lawsuit Young lost as a Hanford manager in October 2017. A jury found that Young aided Hanford contractor Mission Support Alliance in discriminating and retaliating against one of his employees, Julie Atwood.

Four Kennewick residents filed the recall petition.