26th Legislative District Democrats, Washington State
PO Box 1693 Port Orchard, WA 98366
——–FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE——-
Gig Harbor, Washington October 14, 2018
LOCAL PARTY LEADER CENSURED FOR PERSONAL MISCONDUCT
Voting in a recent meeting, the general membership of the 26th Legislative District Democrats have censured their chairman, John Patrick Kelly.
Citing “behavior perceived to be harassing, abusive or disrespectful” and his “failure to avoid profane, prejudicial, exclusionary, abusive or sexualized language,” the October 4th censure noted that Mr. Kelly had repeatedly reverted to “disruptive behavior” in the face of several months of advice, coaching and counseling by party leaders and colleagues.
Among the several concerns leading to the censure action was Mr. Kelly’s history of responding to counseling by threatening to support Republican candidates opposing his own Democratic candidates running for the Legislature. It now appears that he had begun active cooperation with one of the Republican campaigns well before the censure action.
“26th District Democrats continue to support our three Democratic candidates for the Legislature,” stated District Vice Chair Luellen Lucid. “Connie FitzPatrick, Joy Stanford, and Emily Randall are ready now with strong, ethical leadership for our community, our state, and our democracy.”
Acting per local bylaws and state Democratic Party rules, the District’s Executive Board will lead the local party’s activities through the election. Following state law, local party organizations across the state reorganize and elect new leadership in December.
“Ballots arrive this weekend,” reminded Ms. Lucid. “We urge voters to mark their ballots and mail them back right away – no postage needed. Voters can put the ballot in the mail.”
Background info: 26th Legislative district runs “bridge to bridge” – from the Narrows bridge up to the Warren Avenue bridge in Bremerton. The district includes the Gig Harbor, Fox Island, and Key Peninsula communities in Pierce County and the Olalla, South Kitsap, Port Orchard, McCormick Woods, and downtown Bremerton communities in Kitsap County.
Press contact:
Luellen Lucid – 26th Legislative District, Vice Chair
818-259-0461
26thDemocrats@gmail.com
