Opinion ID: 2551237
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Charges One through Six

Text: ¶ 11 Assuming the truth of facts alleged in charges one through six, the charges themselves allege no conduct directly on the part of Secretary Reed. Instead, those charges relate entirely to actions by King County elections officials. The appellants merely argue Secretary Reed should have been aware of such conduct after the fact. ¶ 12 Charges in a recall action must be both factually and legally sufficient. In re Recall of Lee, 122 Wash.2d 613, 616, 859 P.2d 1244 (1993). As to factual sufficiency, the court must inquire into whether the charges state, in detail, the acts complained of, as well as whether they demonstrate that the petitioner knows of identifiable facts that support the charge. Pearsall-Stipek, 141 Wash.2d at 765, 10 P.3d 1034. Factual sufficiency is determined from the face of the statement of charges, In re Recall of Carey, 132 Wash.2d 525, 527, 939 P.2d 1221 (1997), but courts may consider supporting documentation to determine whether the charges are factually sufficient. West, 155 Wash.2d at 663, 121 P.3d at 1193. ¶ 13 The recall statutes do not require the petitioner to have firsthand knowledge, but they do require the petitioner have some form of knowledge more than simply a belief that the charges are true. In re Recall of Ackerson, 143 Wash.2d 366, 373, 20 P.3d 930 (2001); Lee, 122 Wash.2d at 617, 859 P.2d 1244. Appellants' materials explaining the authorities upon which the charges relyconsisting of newspaper accounts and press releasesare not per se insufficient to show some form of knowledge of the facts underlying the charges. West, 155 Wash.2d at 663, 121 P.3d at 1194. ¶ 14 However, this court has noted that there is no authority for the proposition that a public official may be recalled for the act of a subordinate done without the official's knowledge or direction. In re Recall of Morrisette, 110 Wash.2d 933, 936, 756 P.2d 1318 (1988). This conclusion reflects an underlying premise that an official cannot be held responsible for conduct beyond his knowledge or ability to direct. ¶ 15 In light of the foregoing case, appellants' contention here is unsupportable. In King County, the elected county executive appoints the county election officer. King County Charter 320.10 (election of county executive), 920.20.40 (establishment of election office). There is no authority for the proposition that a public official may be recalled for the past conduct of a wholly separate governmental agency. A conclusion to the contrary would run counter to the reasoning of this court in Morrisette, 110 Wash.2d 933, 756 P.2d 1318.