From the Capitol Hill Times:
City Librarian Marcellus Turner told the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission Wednesday that he understands its decision to penalize Seattle Public Libraries for its handling of a 7th Congressional District debate in July, but worries how it will affect SPL’s mission to promote civic engagement in the future.
The complaint against SPL was filed by 7th Congressional District Republican candidate Craig Keller, who took issue with the library’s initial cosponsoring of a candidate forum with Seattle City Club, which selected only three of the nine candidates in the running for outgoing Rep. Jim McDermott’s seat prior to the August primary.
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Turner said the SPL board is concerned about the “unintended consequences” the SEEC’s decision could have on the library’s ability to promote civic engagement, adding the library has been invited to join the Washington Debate Coalition, but is currently not accepting the offer.
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