Plan for new Snohomish County bias panel progresses

Published 11:30 pm Saturday, April 24, 2010

EVERETT — A new plan has emerged for a human rights commission to advise Snohomish County on bias issues that affect people who live or work in the county.

One advocate who has spent years urging county leaders to form the commission called the new proposal inadequate, but applauded the County Council for at least advancing an ordinance. Initially, the plan would create just an advisory body — without the ability to compel civil-rights violators to change their behavior.

“It truly seems like an empty gesture to pass this ordinance without enforcement authority,” said Pamela Van Swearingen, an attorney from Edmonds.

Van Swearingen also said she felt “disappointment and really dismay” because the new plan puts the commission under the authority of County Executive Aaron Reardon’s office, which has come under fire for slipshod handling of worker-harassment complaints.

The County Council expects to discuss the commission plan at its administrative session at 10:30 a.m. May 3. At that meeting, council members are likely to set a hearing date to receive public testimony about the proposed commission.

The Snohomish County Citizens Committee on Human Rights, of which Van Swearingen is a member, has submitted plans for creating a commission similar to ones that exist in King County, Seattle and Tacoma. Supporters envisioned a system to investigate bias complaints about jobs, housing and access to public services. The commission also would be tasked with raising public awareness about discrimination.

Council Chairman Dave Gossett introduced a proposed ordinance last week that included a much-revised version of the group’s plan. Gossett said he made many of the changes, such as deferring enforcement powers to a date uncertain, because he was mindful of the county’s difficult budget situation. An office of human rights, created separately, would fulfill those functions.

“This is an attempt to balance the desire of the citizens who have been working on this,” said Gossett, “with the very real budget problems that we have right now.”

The first phase of Gossett’s plan would include an advisory panel of seven appointed volunteers. The county executive would appoint one commissioner from each of the five County Council districts as well as one member at large. A seventh spot would be reserved for a member of the law-enforcement community, chosen in consultation with the sheriff. The County Council would confirm appointees.

The commission would serve unincorporated Snohomish County and any cities that consent to participate.

Van Swearingen questioned the wisdom of putting the commission under the authority of Reardon’s office.

In February, former county equal employment opportunity investigator Mark Knudsen resigned ahead of a report critical of the records he kept on county workers’ complaints. Knudsen fielded several complaints about sexual harassment in the planning department, but decided not to take any action. Former planning director Craig Ladiser was fired last summer after he allegedly exposed himself and committed a sexually motivated assault involving a woman who works as a building-industry lobbyist. Ladiser is now awaiting trial.

“Somehow, they’re having to come up with a lot of money to handle all the legal problems that have resulted from not having a good system in place,” Van Swearingen said.

An argument against the commission has been that it might scare away businesses. Van Swearingen contends the opposite, that it would send out a positive message about the county respecting people’s rights and thereby attract new businesses.

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

Hearing is May 3

A discussion of a proposed Snohomish County Commission on Human Rights is scheduled for a County Council meeting at 10:30 a.m. May 3 on the eighth floor of the Snohomish County administration building, 3000 Rockefeller Ave., Everett.