(The Center Square) – Entrenched in a lawsuit against one of its own, the Spokane Valley City Council plans to subpoena a sitting elected official’s personal communications, the defendant said Friday.
The officials voted to sue Councilmember Al Merkel in February after an investigation found he “more likely than not” violated state law. A hearing examiner later agreed, noting that Merkel likely violated the Public Records Act over his alleged use of personal social media accounts to discuss city business.
City Manager John Hohman and City Attorney Kelly Konkright have repeatedly requested that Merkel hand over records potentially related to city business, to no avail. While the defendant has turned over several records, Merkel argues that they keep pushing the goalpost whenever he attempts to comply…