As he announced his intention Tuesday to take a leave of absence to deal with “health and other significant personal issues,” Everett City Councilman Mark Olson noted that he has devoted much of his adult life to serving the citizens of Everett. He’s right about that, and citizens should be grateful for that service.
Now, unfortunately, the best way he can serve them is to resign from the council.
Olson’s behavior has cast a cloud over city government that won’t leave until he does. His violation of a probation order that stemmed from a drunken-driving arrest, and a night of drinking that resulted in allegations of sexual assault, have created a distraction the citizens Olson has served don’t deserve. Too much important work is under way in this growing city to have Olson’s personal issues draw attention away from it.
Olson insists he’s innocent of a crime. No charges have been filed in the sexual assault investigation, which is in the hands of the Skagit County prosecutor. He admits having sex with a woman in his office, but says it was consensual. He says he doesn’t have a drinking problem, and that Herald coverage of his legal troubles has been “over the top,” adding to any distraction that exists. He also blames a judge for refusing to fully consider his side of things.
Cascade District Court Judge Jay Wisman ruled last week that Olson had violated terms of a deferred-prosecution deal that allowed him to avoid jail time after he was arrested for drunken driving on the Tulalip Reservation in 2003. In that episode, police say, Olson nearly hit a tribal police officer who had stopped another vehicle. The night of drinking this summer that eventually led to the sexual-assault investigation prompted a probation supervisor to ask for the hearing.
Olson still avoided jail, but Wisman extended a no-drinking order to 2010. Olson says Wisman was unfair to refuse to consider why Olson thought he was only barred from drinking for two years rather than five. He hasn’t ruled out an appeal of Wisman’s decision.
News coverage and a district court judge didn’t cause Olson’s problems, he did. Pointing fingers elsewhere shows an unwillingness to take full responsibility for his own behavior. We think Everett citizens expect more of their elected officials.
Olson does need time away, but it’s hard to see how a few weeks of leave could be enough. Resigning to focus on his personal issues may be the best thing for him in the long run. It’s clearly the best thing for the city right now.
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