State ruling hits national stage with Ron Sims nomination
The afterlife of Yousoufian v. Office of Ron Sims continues. In January the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Armen Yousoufian, who sought to obtain records about taxpayer funding used to build the Seahawks’ Qwest Field. Justice Richard Sanders, writing for the majority, said, “The unchallenged findings of fact demonstrate King County repeatedly deceived and misinformed Yousoufian for years.”
Last week, King County asked the Supreme Court to vacate the ruling, arguing that Justice Sanders has his own public records case, and should not have participated.
Now the ruling comes up in the context of a presidential nomination. Critics are asking why President Obama, who pledged “a new era of openness” in his Administration, would tap King County Executive Ron Sims as deputy of HUD with a case like Yousoufian on his record.
The Associated Press ran a lengthy article, local and national transparency advocates had sharp words, and conservative columnist Michelle Malkin blasted Sims as “disastrous” – all because of his role in Yousoufian.
