Parent wants ethics probe after councilman blasts teacher for Charlie Kirk post

KENNEWICK – Kennewick parents are coming to the defense of a special education teacher whose alleged social media post last week was flagged by critics, claiming she supported a conservative activist’s death.

One parent has asked the Kennewick City Council to open an ethics investigation into Councilman Brad Beauchamp over his commentary on the matter, including a post to his personal Facebook account where he called the teacher a “vile piece of trash.”

Kyle Blodgett, a parent of two children in Kennewick schools, says Beauchamp should have disclosed that his post was his own personal opinion and not that of the city’s nor the council’s.

Blodgett argues the second-term councilman violated municipal code 2.06.040, (8), which requires officials to provide transparency around statements that advocate for or against certain policies or positions.

“Our code of ethics is very clear: members must work for the common good, treat all people fairly, and explicitly state when they are expressing personal views so as not to create the impression they speak for the City. Council member Beauchamp’s comments violated these standards and risk eroding public confidence in the integrity of this body,” wrote Blodgett in an email to the Kennewick city manager.

“Our community deserves leaders who elevate discourse, not tear down residents. We deserve a Council whose members use their positions responsibly, not to target or intimidate individual citizens.”

The Herald reached out to Beauchamp but did not hear back on Tuesday.

Only current members of the City Council are allowed under the municipal code to open up ethics investigations against fellow members. A council member has 45 days from the time they become aware of potential violations to file a complaint.

The process for the ethics investigations was updated in 2023 following a flurry of council filings between 2019 and 2022.

Post about Kirk

Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA and prominent social media activist on college campuses, was shot and killed last Wednesday during a public event in Orem, Utah.

The event sent shock waves through the U.S., with public officials on both sides of the aisle denouncing the assassination and a rising trend of political violence.

Hundreds of Tri-City mourners showed up to a Saturday night vigil to pray and pay respects to Kirk’s “impact and contributions” to MAGA Republicanism. Then, on Monday, the Pasco City Council read a proclamation honoring the slain activist despite some opposition.

Screenshots of a post by a special education teacher at Chinook Middle School began circulating the next day on Facebook. In it, the teacher allegedly quoted Mark Twain, writing, “I have never wished a man dead, but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure.”

The social media post did not include or reference Kirk’s name, but Beauchamp and others called it out.

“This cannot be tolerated,” the councilman wrote in a post to his personal Facebook. “Only the worst of the worst celebrate the slaughter of another human being. She should not be involved in any children’s learning.”

The school district in a Friday letter to families said it was “reviewing” the situation and was committed to ensuring that procedures to investigate staff misconduct were properly followed.

Blodgett, who has a child on the autism spectrum, says many of the parents with whom he’s spoken are in support of the teacher and have condemned Beauchamp’s language.

“Quality special education teachers are worth their weight in gold,” he said, adding that the teacher has shown “incredible character” in their work.

Blodgett supports both people’s right to free speech, but feels Beauchamp is trying to “galvanize a social media mob who has no dogs in the fight” to oust the teacher through a form of “cancel culture vigilante justice.”

Jennifer Humphries, parent of a Kamiakin High School junior, credited her son’s transformation and behavioral improvement to this teacher in a letter sent to the Tri-City Herald.

“(This teacher) was nothing short of a miracle worker with my son,” Humphries wrote. “Not only did his behaviors decrease, but grades improved, effective communication increased, and trust manifested between my family and an educator in ways I never dreamed possible. (This teacher) found Izzy’s strengths and capitalized on them.”

She said the allegations launched against the teacher are “untrue, damaging and life altering.”

“Not only will it affect (their) life and career unfairly, but countless other kids, just like my son, who desperately need a (teacher) on their team,” she continued.

Blodgett said he doesn’t think Beauchamp should resign and doesn’t believe he’s a “bad elected official.” But he does believe he crossed a line and should face some form of repercussion.

Additionally, he hopes the temperature of political discussions will cool.

“What I would hope is the tenure and tone of public discourse can be more adult and less attack-oriented,” Blodgett said.