(The Center Square) – King County and Seattle leaders are calling on County Assessor John Wilson to resign and suspend his campaign for county executive after a temporary restraining order was issued against him earlier this month.
Lee Keller, a local public affairs consultant and Wilson’s domestic partner, obtained a temporary protection order in the King County Superior Court on May 13.
Publicola first reported on the restraining order on Thursday – the second Keller filed against Wilson since May 2024. Keller later told The Seattle Times that the two had reconciled and were engaged.
Court documents reveal that Keller feared Wilson’s alleged stalking and harassment would escalate after she ended their relationship.
King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci is running for King County executive along with Wilson. Balducci said he needs to immediately suspend his campaign and resign his position as county assessor after the latest revelations show “he clearly has breached that trust.”
“Wilson had the opportunity to not file for office in early May knowing this second restraining order was being issued – reflecting behavior that has continued throughout his campaign. Instead, he proceeded as if a pattern of alleged stalking, harassment and abuse would somehow not be an issue in the selection of our next county executive,” Balducci said in a statement on her campaign website.
Fellow King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay – also running for county executive – called the allegations against Wilson disturbing.
“Stalking and harassment have no place in our community, and absolutely no place in the leadership of our state’s largest local government,” Zahilay said in a social media post.
In a separate statementSeattle Mayor Bruce Harrell called for Wilson’s resignation, saying he was appalled by the stories of Wilson’s conduct.
“While he has a right to due legal process, the published allegations are disqualifying for public office,” Harrell said. “We need to send a clear message to survivors of intimate partner abuse that this type of behavior by people in positions of trust is not tolerated.”
Later on Thursday, King County Executive Shannon Braddock also called for Wilson’s resignation
Wilson announced his campaign last fall before officially filing his run on May 9, just four days before Keller’s protection order was issued. Wilson has been the county’s assessor since 2015. As the county assessor, Wilson earns more than $211,000 in salary, according to 2023 King County salary data obtained by The Center Square.
Prior to his current role, he was a journalist for several news outlets in Seattle, including The Seattle Times, KING 5 and Seattle Weekly.
A court hearing is scheduled on June 30.
Wilson did not immediately respond to The Center Square’s request for comment. This is a developing story.
