By Alia Sinclair
Acting City Attorney Cindy Corsilles reported her determination on the alleged ethics violation by Deputy-Mayor Iris Guzman towards Community Services Advisory Board member Pam Fernald in Tuesday night’s (Feb. 11, 2025) SeaTac City Council meeting.
The allegations were made by Fernald after the Dec. 10, 2024 council meeting, in which the Sea Tac City Council voted to confirm her appointment to the Advisory Board. After the confirmation, Fernald was given the chance to make a statement, where she said:
“I really don’t have anything to say, that’s unusual or you know whatever except that I did see the face that Councilmember Guzmán made when someone was saying something positive about me, but anyway, I’m glad to be able to be in this Community Services Committee on the other side of it because I know it intimately well for when I was on the Council so I’m happy to be a part of it from the residential view and do what I can to contribute so that’s it, thanks very much everyone.”
During the Council’s closing remarks, Deputy Mayor Guzmán responded to the earlier statement made by Fernald:
“I just want to say that I was making a face earlier when we were talking about Pam Fernald joining and what not, and I’m going to not apologize for it because this person, when they were on the Council caused harm. And I don’t care if I’m breaking protocol or if it’s unprofessional, but I just want to be clear on that I’m going to stick to my values and I’m not going to be fake or pretend that things are okay when they’re really not. I’m 2, just going to leave it at that. I do not apologize, you all can come for me, I don’t care. I’m about the community that has been harmed. And I have been working these past three years to try to repair some of that harm and move forward for the larger part of our community. So, I’m going to stick to that and you can come for me. I do not care.”
After the Dec. 10, 2024 meeting, Fernald filed an official written complaint against the Deputy Mayor. In her complaint, Fernald alleged that the Deputy Mayor’s comments were “slanderous and defamatory towards her” and that, “Deputy Mayor presented no facts or data to substantiate her aggressive and slanderous accusation about her… and was aggressively adamant about her perceived feelings that I caused harm.”
The complaint specifically cited SeaTac’s City Code of Ethics Policy under SMC 2.90.010. This code expressly states fourteen types of conduct that constitute violations of the City’s Code of Ethics.
They are as follows:
- General Prohibition against Conflicts of Interest. No current elected official should be involved in any activity that is in conflict with the conduct of official City business or is adverse to the interests of the City.
- Beneficial Interests in Contracts Prohibited. No elected official shall participate in his/her capacity as an elected official in the making of a contract in which she/he has a financial interest.
- Beneficial Influence in Contract Selection Prohibited. No elected official shall influence the City’s selection of, or its conduct of business with, a corporation, person or firm having or proposing to do business with the City if the elected official has a financial interest in or with the corporation, person or firm.
- Representation of Private Person at City Proceeding Prohibited. No elected official shall appear on behalf of a private person, other than him/herself or an immediate family member.
- Certain Employment Prohibited. No elected official shall engage in or accept employment from – or render services for – any interest, when such employment or service is incompatible with the proper discharge of official duties.
- Beneficial Interest in Legislation Prohibited. No elected official, in appearing before the City Council or when giving an official opinion before the City Council, shall have a financial interest in any legislation coming before the City Council.
- Disclosure of Confidential Information Prohibited. No elected official shall disclose or use any confidential, privileged or proprietary information, gained by reason of his/her official position, for a purpose which is other than a City purpose.
- Concealment of Public Records Prohibited. No elected official may intentionally destroy public records, or conceal a record if the elected official knew the record was required to be released under the Public Records Act.
- Use of Email. No elected official may use a non-City email account to conduct City business, with the intent to avoid records being preserved as required by law.
- Improper Use of Position Prohibited. No elected official shall knowingly use his/her office or position to secure personal benefit, gain or profit.
- Improper Interference with the City Manager. No elected official shall interfere with the duties of the City Manager, as set forth in RCW 35A.13.120.
- Improper Use of City Property Prohibited. No elected official shall use City owned vehicles, equipment, materials, money or property for personal or private convenience or profit.
- Acceptance of Compensation, Gifts, Favors, Rewards or Gratuity Prohibited.
- Impermissible Conduct after Leaving City Service.
The Acting City Attorney determined that, while an argument could be made that the Deputy Mayor’s comments were contrary to the City’s stated policy contained in SMC 2.90.010, which requires that elected officials maintain the “utmost standards” of fairness and avoid impropriety in their roles as public servants, there is no evidence that these comments violated any of the fourteen provisions of the City’s Code of Ethics and no further action is warranted.
Unbelievable! So, we can now say anything we want about anyone. We can slander, lie and just simply be an ass. That’s OK with you all? Who is this attorney and how do we reach him. I have before, and will again, call for Guzman’s immediate resignation. Most of this city council is a joke anyway and are NOT acting in the will of the people. (Well, other than a few who don’t count).
I’m appalled, shocked and generally pissed off.
I agree.
lol
I know Guzmán enough to say that she would not lie about something like this. Please think critically before jumping to take sides. It’s better to get the whole story when someone is trying to indicate there is a problem with an individual. Additionally, please run for office if you feel you can do better.
ALL the Councilmenbers just sat there and said nothing. If it is okay to slander and defame a private citizen from the SeaTac Council dais its obvious we need some modifications to the Council’s Code of Ethics. Unfortunately we will not see changes from this Council so your votes are the only hope.