Abuse of power & retaliation

King County Ombuds finds Assessor John Wilson violated county ethics code four times, including using his county email and office authority to stalk-adjacent conduct, negotiate a personal lease, and support his own executive campaign

Confidence: Confirmed · 5 sourcesKing County · Sep 22, 2026

Subject of this story

John Wilson, King County Assessor

Also named

Oversight

King County Office of the Ombuds

Advocate

Claudia Balducci, Metropolitan King County Councilmember, District 6

What happened

A September 1, 2026 King County Office of the Ombuds Ethics Report and Findings (Case 2025-0320), triggered by a June 2025 complaint from Councilmember Claudia Balducci, determined by a preponderance of the evidence that elected King County Assessor John Wilson violated the county Ethics Code in four separate ways: using his county email to engage in conduct prohibited by a court's no-contact order; using his county email and official county webpage to negotiate a personal residential lease; using his position to contact the Sheriff for a wellness check on his former partner; and using county email, systems, and software to support his 2025 campaign for King County Executive. The report also found he used sexually explicit language on county-owned technology, in violation of county IT policy. Wilson faces $20,000 in civil penalties and told KIRO Newsradio he will appeal. He is separately charged with two gross-misdemeanor counts of violating a no-contact order tied to his former fiancée, Lee Keller, to which he has pleaded not guilty; a related, earlier set of charges was dismissed in June 2026 after Keller no longer wished to cooperate. Wilson has said he will not seek re-election when his current term ends.

Sources (5)

KUOWWilson was arrested in July for allegedly stalking his former fiancee, and the King County Council called on him to step down.

SourceWe determined by a preponderance of the evidence that John Wilson violated the Ethics Code in four separate sets of issues.

KIRO 7 NewsWilson faces $20,000 in civil penalties and has 20 days to appeal the ombuds report findings.

PubliColaKing County Assessor Wilson misused county resources amid stalking and harassment allegations, ombuds report finds.

SourceIt is clear that John Wilson needs to address his ongoing and escalating behavior and resign as county assessor.

Response

John Wilson

Statement given

Contacted and responded — exact wording not on record.

What happened next (0)

No outcome recorded yet.

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