'Not right for the job': Seattle couple seeks to recall Mayor Katie Wilson

Key Points:

• A north Seattle couple filed recall charges against Mayor Katie Wilson, accusing her of failing to protect public safety and mishandling police leadership and surveillance camera use in several neighborhoods.
• The recall charge is the first step in a legal process requiring review by prosecutors and a judge before petitioners can collect signatures for a potential recall election.
• The charges cite specific issues including Wilson's handling of Police Chief Shon Barnes amid the Bite of Seattle shooting, unaddressed crime in North Aurora, Chinatown International District, Belltown, and failure to activate surveillance cameras.
• Wilson's office dismissed the charges as lacking merit, emphasizing ongoing efforts to improve safety and affordability in Seattle, while noting that most recall attempts do not advance past legal review.
• If approved, proponents would have 180 days to gather signatures, with a recall election scheduled only if enough valid signatures are verified; the last successful recall in King County was in 2018.