Council gives Olson permission to take leave
Published 10:22 pm Wednesday, September 19, 2007
EVERETT — Under investigation for sexual assault and facing pressure to resign, Everett City Councilman Mark Olson received permission Wednesday night to take a leave of absence.
Council President Brenda Stonecipher agreed at a council session to excuse Olson from future meetings through Nov. 1. If he had not been granted excused absences, Olson could have been removed from office after missing three meetings.
The council also on Wednesday appointed former councilwoman and city administrator Marian Krell to stand in for Olson over the next month and a half.
While he is gone, Olson, 52, an Everett attorney, will collect about $3,000 in pay and can receive city medical benefits.
He did not attend Wednesday’s meeting.
“It stinks,” said M.J. Donovan-Creamer, one of a handful of residents who turned out for the meeting. “I don’t agree with the findings that he should be granted a leave of absence with pay.”
Her husband, Bob Creamer, added that he thought Olson should have been at the meeting.
Olson stands accused of sexually assaulting a woman at his downtown Everett law office in June after a night of drinking. He acknowledges having intercourse with the woman, but said the sex was consensual. The woman told police she doesn’t remember consenting and believes she was too impaired to do so. The case is being reviewed. No charges have been filed.
Last week, a Cascade District Court judge in Arlington found that Olson violated a probation order stemming from a 2003 drunken-driving arrest. Olson was required to stay away from alcohol until 2008. He contends that he was told the agreement allowed him to resume drinking in 2005.
The judge last week ordered him to stay sober until 2010, to undergo another drug and alcohol evaluation and to comply with any recommendations set forth by his probation officer.
On Tuesday, Olson released a letter saying he needed to take a break from his council duties to address “health and other significant personal issues.” He also apologized to his colleagues, family and friends for any distraction and embarrassment that allegations against him may have caused.
He said in the letter that he would return to the council a “changed and better person,” and also resigned his position as council vice president.
At Wednesday’s meeting, Stonecipher accepted Olson’s statement without reading it. She then appointed Councilman Drew Nielsen to take over Olson’s role as council vice president.
Stonecipher said on Tuesday that the council could issue a letter asking Olson to step down. That did not happen.
Councilman Arlan Hatloe has said he believes Olson should resign. The council lacks the authority to force a fellow member from office. A council member must be convicted of a felony crime “involving moral turpitude” to be forced from office, City Attorney Ned Johnston said.
After being appointed vice president of the council, Nielsen motioned to appoint Krell.
Krell served on the council for 312 years until 2005. Before that, she ran the city’s Office of Neighborhoods for more than eight years. Krell said she would serve on the council as long as she was needed.
Krell said Stonecipher asked her on Monday if she would volunteer to sit in for Olson.
City Councilman Ron Gipson voted against appointing Krell, saying that he did not agree with Stonecipher’s decision to grant Olson a paid leave of absence.
Gipson said he would grant the paid leave for medical reasons, but not for personal conduct or litigation.
Olson was first elected for Everett City Council in 2001 and handily re-elected in 2005. His current term ends in 2009. In March, he withdrew from a bid at Snohomish County Council, saying he would not have time to continue his private law practice.
Olson also serves as vice chairman of Sound Transit’s board of directors. A Sound Transit spokeswoman said Olson informed the transit agency that he would not attend the next several meetings.
Reporter David Chircop: 425-339-3429 or dchircop@heraldnet.com.
