Woodinville City Councilmember Updates Voter Registration, King County Drops Challenge

The challenge to Scott Hageman's city council residency status was dropped by King County this week after Hageman updated his voter registration to a different Woodinville address.

"I'm hopeful we can put this matter to rest," Hageman said at Tuesday's Woodinville city council meeting, after he spoke for several minutes, and at times emotionally, about the situation. 

Although it was on the agenda for the council to discuss related residency requirements, Woodinville Mayor Bernie Talmas moved to strike the item from the agenda at the start of the meeting.

Deputy Mayor Liz Aspen seconded the motion and commented that the issue was now "a moot point ... the challenge that was filed was dismissed by the department of elections."

Several residents spoke during the comment period in support of Hageman, while some wondered why he took several weeks to respond to an address question. Others voiced displeasure and threatened further action against Talmas, who they said acted unprofessionally in bringing up the issue at the Feb. 12 council meeting. 

Hageman asked to speak after the public finished and although Talmas denied that request, no one would second a motion to approve the council's consent agenda and move on with the meeting, so Talmas let Hageman speak.

Hageman read a statement thanking people for their support and said, with his wife's permission, that he would "shed a little light on this." Below is some of what he said:

"With all due respect, on Feb. 12, when mayor asked me effectively to resign, claiming I wasn't living in the city of Woodinville, it was quite a surprise, followed again last week by a challenge in (King County) elections ... the challenge was dismissed and thankfully the system worked.

As I've stated before, I moved from my home my wife, Susan, and I still own, to another residence in the city of Woodinville ... I made sure King County had address on file and was not at liberty to discuss matters without talking to my wife. She has a right to her privacy. She has given me permission to explain why she has moved to Kirkland. My wife Susan has some very serious health concerns... advised to shorten her commute to work to reduce her pain...this arrangement isn't forever, and it's darned not convenient...

"I really have a bad taste in my mouth about the whole thing ... son and family attacked unfairly...and I'm worried about a pattern of what could be a pattern of illegal or unethical behavior... Our own mayor referred to private loan documents, I find that disturbing. Documents were obtained unethically or illegally, or both... And that the mayor said one of his people has been watching the home of my wife and son. This is very upsetting for me, makes me very worried for privacy/safety of my family."

Hageman also said in the challenge filed last week that a "doctored" document had been submitted – a voter registration for Hageman with a Kirkland address. Patch staff did not find such a document in the challenge posted online last week. The challenge has since been removed from the county website. 

Hageman also said he was concerned that the city attorney's time was used and taxpayer's resources were spent on this issue. 

"Given this pattern of abuse unethical and possibly illegal activity ... I'm concerned not just for my family but for all the citizens of Woodinville," he stated. He said he wanted the council to review when the city attorney's time can be used and for what purposes.

And then he called for Talmas to release to Hageman's attorney the financial documents he referenced when Talmas brought up the issue at the Feb. 12 council meeting. He also said he wanted Talmas to "tell the people you are working with to stop stalking my wife Susan, and son Alec."

Woodinville resident Dale Knapinski filed the challenge with King County after the Feb. 12 meeting. All councilmembers must be legally registered voters in the city in which they hold office throughout their term of office. Knapinski told Patch this week he has asked for the county to review the dismissal of the challenge.

View Tuesday's city council meeting by clicking here – the statement by Hageman begins at about the 1:00 mark.

Previous Coverage:

Challenge to Woodinville Councilmember Scott Hageman's Voter Registration Submitted to King County

Resident Challenges Woodinville City Councilmember's Residency Status

Update: Questions Arise Over Woodinville City Councilmember's Residency Status

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