SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. – Spokane Valley Councilmember Al Merkel requested a public hearing to challenge findings from an independent investigation that concluded he violated the City Council’s Social Media Policy and the Washington State Public Records Act, according to the hearing examiner.
According to an investigation from the hearing examiner, they have determined that several of Merkel’s posts on the Nextdoor platform were related to city business. It found that some posts and responses to them were edited and that Merkel altered declarations regarding his search for public records, which violated the city’s legal obligations under the Public Records Act.
In an email to NonStop Local, Merkel criticized the findings, calling them “flawed” and “biased.” He stated, “It’s a classic story—when someone makes valid criticisms of your policy that you can’t defend, attack them personally.”
At a special meeting on Dec. 19, the City Council voted unanimously (6-0) to censure Merkel. The council cited repeated violations of the Council’s Conduct Standards, failure to use a city-connected social media account for city business, and altering public records declarations. Merkel was also removed from the Opioid Abatement Committee, as the council determined his actions could expose other public entities to legal and financial risks.
“Today, this Council majority once again demonstrates its obsession with distracting from real issues by directing its focus at me. But I will not let this pass without addressing the real failures of this administration. I reprimand this Council and the City Manager for wasting the public’s time and resources on this charade while neglecting the issues that matter most to our residents,” Merkel said in a email to NonStop Local.
More information, including the investigation reports and the hearing examiner’s findings, is available on the city’s website.
