Assessor Hearing Delayed

Sat., July 22, 2000

From Staff

A hearing on allegations that Spokane County Assessor Sadie Charlene Cooney violated three campaign laws has been postponed.

Cooney was supposed to appear before the Public Disclosure Commission next week. Cooney’s attorney asked for more time to prepare, and the hearing was moved to Sept. 26, Disclosure Commission officials said.

Last month, the commission charged Cooney with violating three laws during the 1998 campaign. Cooney allegedly forced some of her employees to do campaign work on county time.

If she’s found guilty, the commission can fine her a maximum of $2,500 and her case would be forwarded to the Washington attorney general’s office for further investigation.

In a related development this week, a former employee in Cooney’s office filed a $1.5 million complaint against the county. Lynda Rouse is alleging Cooney violated her constitutional rights by making her work on the 1998 campaign.

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