SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane City Council plans to formally denounce Mayor Nadine Woodward at Monday’s council meeting.
This comes after the viral video showing Mayor Woodward with former state representative, Matt Shea.
Shea appeared at a worship event on August 20, two days after the Gray Road Lake and Oregon Road fires. As Woodward was brought on stage, Shea and others prayed together for those affected.
Shea, a controversial, far-right figure, has been accused of domestic terrorism.
Her appearance with Shea has sparked controversy.
NonStop Local’s Sean Owsley interviewed Mayor Woodward after this event and she claims she thought this was simply a worship event and should have looked into who was going to be there.
Shortly after, the City Council planned a censure vote— a formal reprimand of her actions. They’ve since changed that language from “censure” to “denouncement.”
“There was just a little concern about ‘censure’ sounding like ‘censoring.’ And we’re saying ‘no, this is not about censoring and preventing free speech and freedom of religion,” ZacK Zappone, City Council Member (District 3) and co-sponsor of the resolution, said.
Zappone told NonStop Local that the formal denouncement does not carry punitive weight. He says it’s a formal statement against the Mayor’s actions.
“This is about saying what we believe the values elected officials should have. And staying away from extremism,” Zappone said.
Zappone and Council Member Betsy Wilkerson (District 2) are co-sponsoring the resolution in response to the viral event.
“It’s time to move on. She’s made the apology, she’s accepted responsibility, this feels like it’s a bit of a piling on at this point,” Brian Coddington, the Communications Manager for the City of Spokane, said.
The City Council meeting will begin at 6 p.m. on Sept. 25
