Markowitz Herbold attorneys successful in getting recall petition dismissed

The Columbian newspaper reports that Clark County Councilor Tom Mielke’s recall petition against three fellow councilors will not go on. A visiting Cowlitz County Superior Court judge, Stephen Warning, dismissed on Friday a series of allegations by Mielke, a Republican, against Council Chair Marc Boldt, no party preference, and Republican Councilors Julie Olson and Jeanne Stewart. 

None of the allegations, he said, met the legal or factual requirements for a recall petition.

“I’m happy it was resolved,” Boldt said after the morning hearing. “I think it was very thorough, and it’s good that it’s final.”

From the familiar faces in the audience to the attorneys on hand, the hearing felt like a cross-section of this year’s ongoing drama from the Clark County council.

Since Boldt and Olson took office, setting in place the keystone piece of the home rule charter, they and Stewart have formed the new majority voting bloc on the county council. That power shift has put Mielke and Republican Councilor David Madore in the minority position on a number of 3-2 votes.

The packed crowd included those who have vocally criticized and praised the council’s recent actions, as well as the other four councilors. Mielke’s attorney, Seattle-based Michael Kahrs, was joined by Madore’s attorney, Nick Power. Madore is not named as a party in the recall.

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