Effort to recall Tucker is official

Recall charges were filed Friday against Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney Steve Tucker alleging that he has failed to perform his duties and has violated his oath of office.

Shannon Sullivan, who led a successful recall of the late Spokane Mayor Jim West in 2005, handed her charges to Auditor Vicky Dalton, who will now send them to the state attorney general’s office to write a ballot synopsis.

A Superior Court judge would then review the charges for sufficiency before they could go out for signature gathering. More than 42,000 county voters would have to sign the petition to place the recall on the ballot.

Sullivan was joined by several supporters during the filing.

Her charges accuse Tucker of malfeasance, misfeasance and violation of his oath of office, allegations that in part stem from Tucker’s refusal to bring charges in the Spokane police beating death of Otto Zehm in 2006 and his recent refusal to appear in court to explain a plea bargain deal.

She also alleges malfeasance for failure to bring charges against a former Spokane firefighter following a sexual encounter in a firehouse.

A fourth charge involves an alleged public statement by Tucker that he would never bring a criminal case against a police officer or public employee.