Thurston County voter files to recall Commissioner Emily Clouse after board censure

Thurston County Commissioner Emily Clouse is facing a recall petition following her censure by the county board for alleged misconduct after a workplace investigation. The petition, filed by open government advocate Arthur West, claims that Clouse's actions amount to malfeasance or misfeasance, undermining public trust. Her fellow commissioners expressed a significant loss of confidence, stating that her conduct would have led to termination for a regular county employee. The board's decision to deny her legal representation during the recall proceedings places the responsibility of defense on Clouse, complicating her situation further. The auditor's office confirmed that West's petition is the only one received and is awaiting approval from a Superior Court judge to proceed.

If approved, West will have 180 days to gather the required 18,499 signatures for the recall. The outcome will ultimately be decided by the voters, raising important questions about accountability and the standards applied to elected officials.