Washington Governor Faces Recall Over Commission Seats

0:00It's April 7th. Welcome in. This is Vancouver News today, where local news meets AI. Washington Governor Bob Ferguson faces a recall petition for dragging his feet on filling two empty seats on the Public Disclosure Commission, the panel that oversees state campaign finance rules. Attorney Connor Edwards filed it on April 1st, charging Ferguson with mispeasons and breaking his oath by ignoring a state law that demands appointments within 30 days of a vacancy. One spot's been opened almost his entire first term, which kicked off last January. The commission stuck at just three members out of five, so they need everyone present for a quorum to pass rules, hold hearings, or settle cases. They've already skipped a real business at a March meeting, because someone was out. Turning it into an info-only session. With elections looming in 2026, this could cripple their ability to police campaign cash. Frustrations mounting among the commissioners themselves. Mayor Jay Robert Leach admitted they've been pushing for over a year with no luck, saying

1:03they can't force the governor's hand. Executive director Peter Frey LaValle told them straight up, they're not getting traction, even after chats with Ferguson's top staff, who cited other. Priorities during the legislative session. Ferguson's team fire back Monday, saying they've been actively working on the picks, and plan a full response to the petition soon. Next up, a thirst and county judge reviews if it's legally solid. If yes, backers need about 965,000 signatures to force a, vote. Edwards calls this pressure to get those seats filled before things derail the elections, and he dropped the recall if Ferguson moves fast. But after, months of silence, he's not holding his breath. This saw goes far from over as the clock ticks.