Opinion ID: 6218053
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Petition I

Text: Shavlik filed her first recall petition on April 23, 2020. 3 Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 422-37. That petition solely concerned Sheriff Fortney’s April 21, 2020, Facebook post and subsequent press conference where he stated he would not criminally enforce Governor Inslee’s Stay Home Order. 1 Id. In that petition, Shavlik alleged those actions (a) violated the sheriff’s statutory duties under RCW 36.28.010 and 36.28.011, (b) constituted wrongful conduct that affects, interrupts, or interferes with COVID-19 prevention efforts, (c) constituted performance of a duty in an improper manner, (d) constituted neglect or a knowing failure by an elective public officer to perform faithfully a duty imposed by law, (e) constituted an unlawful act insomuch as it encourages citizens to violate the governor’s proclamation and other local health directives in violation of RCW 43.20.050, RCW 70.05.120, and WAC 246-100-070, (f) undermined public trust and puts others at risk, including health officials and emergency management teams, and (g) resulted in private gain to Sheriff Fortney’s private business interests as a result of Sheriff Fortney’s public office, in violation of RCW 42.23.070. Id. at 439-40. 1 Proclamation by Governor Jay Inslee, No. 20-25 (Wash. Mar. 23, 2020), https://www.governor.wa.gov/sites/default/files/proclamations/2025%20Coronovirus%20Stay%20Safe-Stay%Healthy%20tmp%20(002)pdf [https://perma.cc/PJ48-WAEY]. See 4 CP at 523-27. 2 In re Recall of Fortney, No. 99804-3 The superior court found charges (a), (c), and (d) sufficient and allowed Shavlik to gather signatures. Id. at 250-52. But Shavlik failed to file any signatures as required by RCW 29A.56.150(2). 4 CP at 642. Accordingly, recall I ended, and Sheriff Fortney remained in office.