Seattle port commissioner to end board career in face of recall

Senior Port of Seattle commissioner Pat Davis said Thursday she would not run for re-election when her current term expires at the end of 2009.
A 13-year veteran of the commission, Davis issued the statement following a state Supreme Court ruling the same day that a recall petition against her can be put to King County voters.


In the statement, Davis said she had decided not to seek another term some time ago and was awaiting the court's ruling on the petition before announcing her decision.


The recall petition, first filed early last year, accuses Davis of malfeasance in her handling of a memo granting former port Chief Executive Officer Mic Dinsmore about $239,000 in after-retirement salary. Davis alone signed the memo authorizing the payment, and the salary agreement was not voted on nor approved by the rest of the port Board. The full board eventually rescinded the salary authorization to Dinsmore.


In her statement Thursday, Davis denied any illegal action in her handling of the memo.


Despite Davis vow against running for another term, voters could be asked to recall her before her current term expires.