On a 9-8 vote, the 29th Legislative District Democratic Party Organization approved a resolution calling for Representative David Sawyer to either step down or not seek re-election.
In February, The News Tribune published a story in which eight women accused Sawyer of crossing professional boundaries and engaging in inappropriate behavior. Specifically, the interviewed women say his behavior included suggestive electronic messaging and comments with sexual overtones.
Following the allegations, Pierce County Democratic Party Chairman, Tim Farrell, called for Sawyer’s resignation and Tacoma Representative Laurie Jinkins endorsed his competitor.
Sawyer told The News Tribune and The Olympian he believes he has acted professionally and lawfully and denies any wrongdoing. He also said he will continue to run for re-election and asked that an independent, neutral investigation take place.
In response to the allegations and Sawyer’s intent to continue to run for his seat in 2018, Precinct Committee Officer Melissa Dunbar submitted the resolution calling for the 29th LD Democrats to withdraw their support for Sawyer.
According to Walker Orenstein’s coverage of Monday’s meeting, a group of people spoke against the resolution and said they believed Sawyer needed to be found guilty by an investigative body before taking action on the issue.
The House is currently conducting an investigation into Sawyer’s conduct related to at least one of the accusations.
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