Ex-mayor had 2 years left in term. Kennewick council must fill his seat after sex scandal
When Kennewick’s mayor suddenly resigned on election night, he had more than two years left in his term. Now the Kennewick City Council will have to appoint someone to fill the seat.
Applications to fill Bill McKay’s position are due by 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, according to a Kennewick news release.
The Position 4 seat is “at large,” meaning it represents all of Kennewick, and is voted on city-wide, rather than by voters in just one council district.
It is a nonpartisan position. Applications must be submitted online. Anyone with questions about the process can call 509-585-4238.
Those interested in applying must be at least 18, a resident of Kennewick for at least one year, a registered voter and “demonstrate a willingness to actively represent the interests of the citizens of Kennewick.”
Applicants will be notified on or before Dec. 11 if they are selected for an interview with the council. A special meeting is set for Dec. 15 for interviews.
The appointment is for the council seat, not McKay’s former positions as mayor.
The appointee will serve through Dec. 31, 2025, and will need to file to run for election in the 2025 primary cycle if they want to remain on the council.
Kennewick’s mayor and mayor pro tem are selected by the city council from among the members every two years. The mayor presides over council meetings, but has an equal vote. The pro tem fills in if the mayor is absent or unable to perform their duties.
Mayor Pro Tem Gretl Crawford is fulfilling the mayoral duties until the council reassigns positions at the beginning of 2024. The council will then vote on who will step into the mayor and mayor pro tem positions for 2025 and 2026.
Questions on the application include: occupational status and background, educational background, community and organizational affiliations, volunteer activities, skills and interests, experience related to the position and why you are seeking appointment.
McKay’s resignation
McKay’s decision to resign before the council’s Nov. 7 meeting came as a surprise to most. Then a public records request revealed he had been interviewed by Kennewick police about information he claims to have gathered while “investigating” illicit massage parlors.
McKay was never asked to participate in any investigation, according to Kennewick Public Relations Manager Evelyn Lusignan.
He told detectives had been going to massage business for nearly two years, according to information he provided to Kennewick police investigators in a recorded interview. He reached out to Kennewick police the day the department participated in a Chelan County raid on a suspected illicit massage parlor on Clearwater Avenue in March.
When an investigator asked McKay what they would find if they reviewed video recording from the location, he admitted that he had paid for sexual services there. Over the course of the interview he provided a list of businesses he said offered either sexual services such as “happy endings” or sex.
He told investigators he also paid for happy endings at other locations, but did not specify which other massage parlors or how often, according to his statements during the interview.
A criminal investigation into McKay was never opened, and the department closed out the police report in late October, which meant it could be released to the public, according to Lusignan.
A public records request was submitted, and the council began its new process of investigating ethics complaints. It did not reach the level of a formal complaint because McKay resigned before the council could discuss the issue for the first time Nov. 7.
After questions arose about how the investigation was handled, Benton County Prosecutor Eric Eisinger requested an outside prosecutor review the incident. Pierce County Prosecutor Mary Robnett is looking into the interview and McKay’s alleged admissions and if he should be charged with a crime.
