By Miki Mullor
Editor
The Washington Court of Appeals has upheld a lower court ruling that the City of Sammamish did not violate the state’s Public Records Act (PRA) in handling requests from former Deputy Mayor and City Council member Ramiro Valderrama. The decision, issued on December 16, 2024, comes after a contentious legal battle that included accusations of bad faith and a $10 million settlement demand from Valderrama.
Continue readingBy Miki Mullor
Special Coverage
Jan. 29, 2024: Former Sammamish Deputy Mayor/City Council member Ramiro Valderrama wanted $10 million, plus attorneys’ fees, to settle his lawsuit filed in March last year alleging the city failed to turn over public records.
Valderram alleged violations of the Public Records Act by council members he politically opposed, specifically targeting former Mayor Christie Malchow, former council member Ken Gamblin and then-and current council member Kent Treen.
Records from the litigation show Valderama’s attorney demanded in September $10 million to settle the case, along with a public statement by the city, to be approved by Valderrama, acknowledging city council members violated the Public Records Act.
Last month, a judge dismissed the lawsuit, finding the city and council members followed the law. The judge issued a summary judgment (meaning, no jury or bench trial) on the city’s motion to dismiss. Valderrama this month filed a notice with the King County court that the decision will be appealed to the state appellate court. He has about three months from the January 11 notice to file his case with the higher court.
The city provided the Sammamish Comment documents through Public Records Requests (PRRs) showing the legal bill for the city’s defense is now up to $340,000, not including the city clerk’s staff time. Earlier in the litigation, a month after filing, and before incurring its legal fees, the city offered Valderrama $75,000 to settle the case, which he refused.
Transcripts of depositions taken in this case were made public through a PRR and reveal a political connection between Valderama’s case, the investigation of former city manager David Rudat, Stephanie Rudat’s connection to both these issues and an apparent political revenge as a motive. Stephanie is the daughter of David. Malchow was one of the council members who voted to initiate the Rudat investigation.
Continue readingBy Miki Mullor
Special Coverage
Dec. 15, 2023: A King County Superior Court judge today dismissed a lawsuit filed by former city councilman Ramiro Valderrama alleging Public Records Act violations.
The judge granted a Summary Judgment motion by the city and denied a competing motion by Valderrama. The case was slated to go to trial in March, but a Summary Judgment means there was enough evidence to conclude the case based on information already filed with the court. The ruling is a sweeping victory for the city and a crushing defeat for Valderrama.
In ruling for the city and against Valderrama, Judge Paul Crisalli concluded that several pieces of Valderrama’s testimony, declarations, and depositions he obtained were based on hearsay and speculation.
A political and legal saga, the PRR case was started by Valderrama against the city and several council members almost two years ago.
Superior Court Judge Paul Crisalli’s order:
Valderrama filed his lawsuit after engaging in a year-long public campaign in which he accused Malchow 26 times during city council meetings in 2022 of breaking the public records law. Valderrama, who coined his accusations “Malchowgate”, did not present evidence during these meetings to back his accusations.
Continue readingBy Scott Hamilton
A text message from David Rudat, the former Sammamish city manager, to Christie Malchow, at the time the deputy mayor, directing her to delete emails subject to public records requests surfaced this week while Malchow responded to a more recent public record request.
Continue readingJune 8, 2022: Mayor Christie Malchow tendered her resignation from the Sammamish City Council today, effective June 12.
Malchow cited missing too many family obligations for he young children and with her husband.
Malchow was midway through her second term.
The council must select a new mayor. The deputy mayor is Kali Clark, but her position doesn’t automatically elevate her to mayor. Both positions are ceremonial, selected by the council–not the voters.
Clark is only in her sixth month as deputy mayor in her first term in public office. It’s unlikely that Karen Moran, who served two years as mayor and who is six months into her second term on the council, will be selected to succeed Malchow. Moran has been a divisive force on the council. She also opposed the ethics investigation of former city manager David Rudat. She still opposes releasing the reports to the public.
Kent Treen is also unlikely to be named mayor. He’s in his final two years of his first term and like Moran, opposed the ethics probe and release of the reports to the Sammamish voters.
Pam Stuart served one full term but did not seek reelection. However, when Ken Gamblin resigned in January, Stuart was appointed to his seat by the King County Council when the Sammamish City Council deadlocked over the appointment.
Malchow’s resignation letter is below.
Continue reading
Sammamish Comment 