Drafter
Clerk 04/16/2026
Title
A MOTION authorizing all members of the King County council to sign a letter calling for John Arthur Wilson to immediately resign as the King County assessor.
Body
WHEREAS, the office of King County assessor is to accurately and systematically determine the value of each property in King County so that the public can trust the property taxes collected from property owners in King County shall be equitable across classes of property, and
WHEREAS, John Arthur Wilson was elected to the office of King County assessor on November 3, 2015, and was last reelected to the office of King County assessor on November 7, 2023, and
WHEREAS, it has come to the attention of the council through news media outlet reports that for nearly two years Mr. Wilson has been embroiled in a domestic dispute, during the course of which Mr. Wilson is accused of stalking and harassing a King County resident, and
WHEREAS, on May 9, 2024, the King County superior court issued a temporary protection order preventing Mr. Wilson from contacting that same King County resident due to disturbing allegations of repeated stalking and harassment, and
WHEREAS, on May 13, 2025, the King County superior court issued an immediate restraining order preventing Mr. Wilson from contacting the same King County resident based on renewed allegations of a continued pattern of stalking and harassment, and
WHEREAS, it is also alleged that Mr. Wilson improperly used county resources to engage in the stalking, and
WHEREAS, court records and public reporting reflect a continuing pattern of inappropriate behavior and a failure by Mr. Wilson to acknowledge any wrongdoing, leaving open a real concern that this type of behavior will persist, and
WHEREAS, it is crucial that elected officials in King County conduct their professional and personal affairs in ways that maintain the public's trust and faith in the officials' integrity and abilities, and
WHEREAS, employees in the King County assessor's office deserve a leader who possesses sound judgment and the highest integrity to guide the important work in the King County assessor's office, and
WHEREAS, the behavior and actions alleged in the court filings on which the court orders were based are repugnant and inconsistent with the level of personal decorum and professionalism expected of an elected official, and
WHEREAS, the council finds that allegations on which the court orders against Mr. Wilson are based are extremely serious and have caused irrevocable harm to the public's trust and faith in John Arthur Wilson's ability to perform the duties of King County assessor, and
WHEREAS, on March 23, 2026, the Seattle city attorney charged John Arthur Wilson in Seattle municipal court with two counts of violation of no contact order-domestic violence, stemming from multiple incidents that were documented by the Seattle police department in July 2025, and
WHEREAS, the council has lost confidence in Mr. Wilson's judgement, aptitude, and ability to perform the duties of King County assessor;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
All members of the King County council are authorized to sign the letter calling for John Arthur Wilson's immediate resignation, attached as Attachment A to this motion.