County executive candidate questions source of complaint

  • By Noah Haglund Herald Writer
  • Thursday, September 29, 2011 12:01am
  • Local News

EVERETT — The origin of ethics complaints against a candidate for Snohomish County executive remained murky on Wednesday.

An attorney vouched for the existence of the Seattle man who claims to have filed the complaints. Meanwhile, one of County Executive Aaron Reardon’s staff, accused of hav

ing actually brought the complaints, balked at being interviewed.

The issue this week became a flash point between Reardon, the Democratic incumbent, and Republican state Rep. Mike Hope. The pair are facing off in the Nov. 8 election.

Hope is a Seattle police officer. The complaints questioned Hope’s appearance in uniform in campaign materials.

This month, the state Public Disclosure Commission dismissed one of the complaints outright. A Seattle police internal investigation ended with Hope being recommended for nothing more than a meeting with his supervisor to review policies.

A Granite Falls address used by whomever brought the state complaint is the home of a Reardon staffer. If the complaints were brought using county resources, that would be a potential violation of state campaign law, Hope said.

Reardon said the employee Hope is accusing, Kevin Hulten, has nothing to do with his campaign or the complaints.

The complaints were filed by a man named John Chambers. On Wednesday, a Seattle lawyer said he represents Chambers and emailed a message declaring that his client is real.

“Respecting my client’s privacy, I will provide no contact information for Mr. Chambers,” attorney Adam Matherly wrote. “I can however verify that his full name as reported on his Washington state drivers license is John Allen Chambers and that he is a resident of the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood of Seattle.”

Public records also show a man in his mid-20s by that name who has lived in Seattle and Edmonds. An email associated with Chambers appears in an online classified ad offering tutoring services, in which the tutor describes himself as a recent University of Washington political science graduate.

Attempts to call, text and email Chambers led to an email declining an interview, but calling attention to the lawyer’s statement.

Hope said whether Chambers exists is irrelevant to him. He insists the evidence points to Reardon’s office. The key, he said, is the Granite Falls address where Hulten lives. It appears in correspondence with the Public Disclosure Commission, although the state says their letter sent there came back unopened. The complaint also features an old phone number used by Hulten.

Hulten works on constituent and governmental services for Reardon. He also has been a legislative aide for state Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens, and an editor for the weekly Lake Stevens Journal.

“The evidence leads to Kevin Hulten, and it’s time for somebody to do an investigation for the first time in his life, and his name’s Aaron Reardon,” Hope said.

The conflict resulted in a testy exchange between the candidates at a Wednesday editorial board meeting at The Herald. Reardon accused Hope and his political backers of making repeated calls to Hulten for several months, pumping him for information and telling him he’d have a job if Hope wins the election.

“It’s a lot like you’ve been grooming this young man,” Reardon said.

Later, the executive told Hope, “If you want to go after my 31-year-old aide, you’re running for the wrong position.”

“Now, take your best shot at me,” he finished.

Hope said the current flap is similar to other management slip-ups in Reardon’s administration.

“Quit taking people for their word and start investigating, Aaron,” he said.

Hulten posted around 2 a.m. Wednesday to The Herald’s website messages claiming that he was the victim of a smear campaign and shoddy reporting.

On Tuesday he ignored phone and email messages seeking his comment about the story before publication. Earlier in the day, Reardon said he had spoken with him about Hope’s accusations.

On Wednesday, Hulten refused to make himself available for on-the-record interviews.

Late in the day, Hulten sent an email denying being part of any campaign, stating, “Mike Hope accused me of something I did not do.”

He said his bosses didn’t want him talking to The Herald. Both Reardon and Gary Haakenson, the deputy executive, told a reporter Hulten had been cleared to answer the newspaper’s questions.

Hulten knows Hope from his time as an aide in the same legislative district. He’s also been a long-time friend of Hope’s campaign treasurer, Blair Anderson.

Washington State Republican Party Chairman Kirby Wilbur on Wednesday called for investigations to be conducted by the state Attorney General and prosecutors from both Snohomish and King counties.

Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465; nhaglund@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Trader Joe’s customers walk in and out of the store on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Trader Joe’s opens this week at Everett Mall

It’s a short move from a longtime location, essentially across the street, where parking was often an adventure.

Ian Bramel-Allen enters a guilty plea to second-degree murder during a plea and sentencing hearing on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Deep remorse’: Man gets 17 years for friend’s fatal stabbing in Edmonds

Ian Bramel-Allen, 44, pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder for killing Bret Northcutt last year at a WinCo.

Firefighters respond to a small RV and a motorhome fire on Tuesday afternoon in Marysville. (Provided by Snohomish County Fire Distrct 22)
1 injured after RV fire, explosion near Marysville

The cause of the fire in the 11600 block of 81st Avenue NE had not been determined, fire officials said.

Ashton Dedmon appears in court during his sentencing hearing on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett Navy sailor sentenced to 90 days for fatal hit and run

Ashton Dedmon crashed into Joshua Kollman and drove away. Dedmon, a petty officer on the USS Kidd, reported he had a panic attack.

A kindergarten student works on a computer at Emerson Elementary School on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘¡Una erupción!’: Dual language programs expanding to 10 local schools

A new bill aims to support 10 new programs each year statewide. In Snohomish County, most follow a 90-10 model of Spanish and English.

Cassie Franklin, Mayor of Everett, delivers the annual state of the city address Thursday morning in the Edward D. Hansen Conference Center in Everett, Washington on March 31, 2022.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
At Everett mayor’s keynote speech: $35 entry, Boeing sponsorship

The city won’t make any money from the event, city spokesperson Simone Tarver said. Still, it’s part of a trend making open government advocates wary.

Logo for news use featuring the Tulalip Indian Reservation in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Woman drives off cliff, dies on Tulalip Reservation

The woman fell 70 to 80 feet after driving off Priest Point Drive NW on Sunday afternoon.

Everett
Boy, 4, survives fall from Everett fourth-story apartment window

The child was being treated at Seattle Children’s. The city has a limited supply of window stops for low-income residents.

People head out to the water at low tide during an unseasonably warm day on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Lighthouse Park in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett shatters record high temperature by 11 degrees

On Saturday, it hit 73 degrees, breaking the previous record of 62 set in 2007.

Snohomish County Fire District #4 and Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue respond to a motor vehicle collision for a car and pole. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, near Triangle Bait & Tackle in Snohomish. (Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office)
Police: Troopers tried to stop driver before deadly crash in Snohomish

The man, 31, was driving at “a high rate of speed” when he crashed into a traffic light pole and died, investigators said.

Alan Dean, who is accused of the 1993 strangulation murder of 15-year-old Bothell girl Melissa Lee, appears in court during opening statements of his trial on Monday, March 18, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
31 years later, trial opens in Bothell teen’s brutal killing

In April 1993, Melissa Lee’s body was found below Edgewater Creek Bridge. It would take 27 years to arrest Alan Dean in her death.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Snohomish in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Man dies after crashing into pole in Snohomish

Just before 1 a.m., the driver crashed into a traffic light pole at the intersection of 2nd Street and Maple Avenue.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.