Mayor refuses to resign over racist post

Published 6:35 pm Tuesday, July 14, 2015

AIRWAY HEIGHTS — The mayor of a Spokane suburb is refusing to resign despite posting racist comments about President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.

The Airway Heights City Council has asked Mayor Patrick Rushing to resign after the comments were posted on his personal Facebook page.

But Rushing is refusing, contending he didn’t realize his comments were racist.

The comments compared the Obamas to monkeys.

Rushing told The Spokesman-Review that he is not a racist.

Deputy City Manager and Police Chief Lee Bennett says that’s not enough. Bennett says that as an elected official Rushing needs to hold himself to a higher standard.

The City Council has asked for a resolution expressing its dissatisfaction with the mayor.