28-05-2025
Tacoma mayor visited Israel. Here's what city's ethics board decided about that
The Tacoma Board of Ethics found that Mayor Victoria Woodards' choice to accept a week-long, all-expenses-paid trip to Israel in March did not violate the city's code of ethics, according to a ruling shared with The News Tribune on Tuesday.
As previously reported by The News Tribune, Woodards attended a trip to Israel organized by the American Jewish Committee as part of its annual AJC Project Interchange with the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Woodards was the only mayor from Washington to attend the trip, which included round-trip airfare to and from Tel Aviv, luxury hotel accommodations, meals, historic tours, lectures on Israeli politics and society and a meeting with the families and survivors of the Oct. 7 terrorist attack.
The timing of her trip drew scrutiny from some residents, including Rob Harrison, who filed an ethics complaint last month questioning if Woodards' acceptance of the trip and its perks was prohibited or an improper use of her position as mayor.
While Woodards was in Israel on March 18, Israel launched airstrikes in Gaza that killed more than 400 Palestinians, breaking a ceasefire that had remained in place since January, as reported by the Associated Press. Since the Gaza-based terrorist group Hamas launched an attack on Israel Oct. 7, 2023, at least 53,939 people, including 16,500 children have been killed in Gaza, as reported by the BBC on Monday. About 1,200 people were killed and 251 Israelis were taken hostage by Hamas in 2023, according to the BBC. Fifty-seven people are still being held, about 20 of whom are assumed to be alive.
According to a ruling dated May 23 that was sent to Harrison and shared with The News Tribune, the Tacoma Board of Ethics dismissed Harrison's complaint after discussing the case via email, said city spokesperson Maria Lee. Board of Ethics members said Woodards is on the advisory board of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and 'Elected officials and city employees routinely travel for work, for events such as conferences, educational workshops and meetings.'
Board of Ethics members said Woodards did not violate the Tacoma Municipal Code 1.46.030 related to prohibited conduct of city employees, including the improper use of their position and acceptance of gifts. According to the conclusion, there was no evidence presented that supported the allegation that Woodards 'secured a special privilege, exemption, gain or benefit for herself' as other mayors were invited. Additionally, 'Attending conferences and related events, even on an international trip, is not an improper use of one's position at the City. This is true, even if there is some incidental personal gain (e.g. visiting a new state or country), as long as the travel, conference or similar is reasonably related to their work for the City.'
City employees can attend hosted meals 'when it is provided in conjunction with a meeting directly related to the conduct of City business or where official attendance by the City officer or employee as a City representative is appropriate,' and 'any such travel does not meet the above definition of 'gift' as the trip to Israel was related to her duties as Mayor of Tacoma,' according to the ruling.
'A majority of the Board concurred with the initial opinion of the Deputy City Attorney that Complaint No. 2025-001 alleged facts which, even if true, would not constitute a violation of the Code of Ethics and that dismissal of Complaint 2025-001 was appropriate without further Board action,' the complaint said.
The city's Board of Ethics consists of five regular members who are city residents recommended by the Government Performance and Finance Committee and formally appointed by a resolution of the City Council. Membership is three years. Those currently on the board are MarcusAntonio Gunn, Chelsea McElroy, Kashmiri Gavronski, Nelson Rascon and Diane Tilstra, according to the board's website.
In an email to The News Tribune on Wednesday morning, Woodards said she acknowledged and appreciated 'the thorough review' conducted by the Board of Ethics.
'This process is a cornerstone of our commitment to transparency, providing a dedicated avenue for the community to raise questions and hold public officials accountable to our shared ethics code. The process has worked as intended, and the resulting report of findings brings greater clarity,' she said. 'Travel for conferences and education, undertaken on behalf of the City, is a standard and important part of my responsibilities as Mayor. This particular trip was instrumental in deepening my understanding of a complex and challenging issue from multiple perspectives. I emerged more confident that Tacoma's approach—working hand-in-hand with our Jewish and Muslim communities, as we demonstrated with our own ceasefire resolution—is the correct path forward. Our focus remains, as it should, on our Tacoma community members and their well-being.'
In an email to The News Tribune on Tuesday, Harrison said he thanked the city for looking into the matter and updating him.
'I do have some questions, but I need some time to organize my thoughts,' he said.
According to the Board of Ethics' website, the five-member board had planned to meet April 9 but that meeting was canceled. The next meeting is scheduled for July 9. The board met three times last year, according to the website.
Upon receiving an ethics complaint, the legal advisor to the board (in this case deputy city attorney Debra Casparian, Lee said) 'shall make an initial review for legal sufficiency' and if, in their opinion, the complaint's allegations (even if true) would not constitute a violation of the code of ethics, or concerned matters in which the board has no jurisdiction, the legal advisor will issue an opinion via email to all board members saying dismissal appears appropriate, according to the administrative procedures.
If a majority of a quorum of the board agrees within five business days after the email opinion was sent, that satisfies the requirement that the board meets to consider a complaint prior to dismissal, according to the procedures.
In this case the board corresponded via email and there was no public hearing, Lee said.
