PORT ANGELES — An eight-part ethics complaint has been filed against Deputy Mayor Cherie Kidd over her conduct while she presided over a City Council meeting Tuesday night.
Port Angeles resident Marolee Smith, who ran unsuccessfully for City Council candidate Nov. 3, filed the complaint Thursday.
Smith asks that Kidd be removed as deputy mayor.
The complaint will be decided by a three-person citizens’ ethics board and will be discussed by the City Council at its next regular meeting Feb. 16.
Kidd said Friday she expects the complaint will be dismissed by the city’s three-person citizens’ Board of Ethics.
Smith alleges Kidd violated the city Code of Ethical Conduct on Tuesday while the council heard comments from a packed chamber of 50 to 60 people on the council’s decision to continue fluoridating city water.
Many criticized Kidd and three other council members for voting in favor of fluoridation despite a city survey in which a majority of the respondents opposed continued fluoridation.
She said she prohibited political signs — adding that “this is something that has never been prohibited, and the council has never voted on this new rule as a body” — limited public comment, acted in a way that discredited public officials and “engaged in harassment of each speaker in the public comment period.”
She also said that Kidd “was rude to several of the City Council members,” was abusive and verbally attacked the character or motives of the public, and “demeaned, harassed and intimidated another person.”
The eighth part of the complaint was as follows:
“And, perhaps the most egregious, as a public official Ms. Kidd did NOT conduct herself toward the public in a civil or professional manner, and did NOT foster public respect and cooperation.”
Smith said in an interview Friday that Kidd’s actions were divisive at a time that the city needs to come together.
“She did exactly the wrong thing,” Smith said.
Kidd defended her actions Friday.
“I believe the City Council should not sit there and be abused with personal insults,” she said.
“I am fully confident everything is going to be fine.”
Kidd abruptly adjourned Tuesday’s meeting after interrupting an speaker over what Kidd said were insulting comments toward City Council members.
Kidd also stopped speakers from commenting at an earlier public comment session, sometimes cutting people off before their three-minute limit had been reached.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
