Socialist Seattle city councilor’s event draws complaint

SEATTLE— A town-hall meeting hosted by socialist Seattle City Councilwoman Kshama Sawant last week has drawn two ethics complaints— including one from a fellow council member.

The Seattle Times reports that Councilwoman Sally Bagshaw says it was a political rally camouflaged as an official event.

The City Hall event, held by Sawant and Councilman Nick Licata, drew several hundred people. It focused on whether local governments in Washington should get the authority to enact rent control. A spokesman for Sawant’s campaign and a staff member in her office say it was an appropriate way to advance her housing agenda.

An anonymous complaint to the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission also took issue with Sawant’s campaign setting up signature-gathering tables in the lobby to get her name on the ballot. A campaign spokesman says the tables were available to other candidates as well.

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