PAC running pro-Sims ads issues refunds

A political-action committee running ads supporting King County Executive Ron Sims and opposing his challenger, King County Councilman David Irons, has refunded $23,000 to two labor unions that made donations over the legal limit.

The Voter Education Committee told the state Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) Monday it has issued checks of $15,000 to the United Food and Commercial Workers and $8,000 to the Washington State Council of County and City Employees.

The refunds represent the amount contributed by the unions in excess of the $5,000 limit for contributions made after Oct. 17. The unions made the contributions Oct. 18.

PDC staff members instructed the Voter Education Committee to rebate the excess.

The political committee began running $105,000 worth of advertisements on Seattle-area radio stations Monday. The two ads blast Irons for accepting money from casino owners and attack his "right-wing agenda" and his support for President Bush.

The union-backed ad campaign is independent of Sims' re-election campaign, but it strikes some of the same themes his campaign has emphasized.

Although the labor movement overwhelmingly backs Sims, the pro-Irons King County Juvenile Detention Guild accused Sims on Tuesday of favoring unions that contribute to his political campaigns.

About 15 jail guards picketed in front of the County Courthouse Tuesday carrying signs that read "Ron Sims is unfair to labor" and "Ron Sims undermines civil rights."

Joining the jail guards on the picket lines were members of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 302, who have been working without a county contract since January 2002. The jail guards also have not reached agreement with the county on a contract.

The Detention Guild's legal adviser, Jared Karstetter, and his political ally, Tim Eyman, said Sims treats the Detention Guild and Operating Engineers differently from other unions because they haven't contributed to his campaigns.

Eyman said Sims "consistently punishes public employees who can't afford to donate big bucks for his re-election."

Sims staffers in the executive's office angrily denied the claim. "I have no idea who contributes or not," county labor-relations manager Nancy Buonanno Grennan said of political contributions. "That's not my job. I find that insulting."

Keith Ervin: 206-464-2105