Sumner council member removed from committees in wake of offensive email

SUMNER, Wash. — A Sumner city council member has been stripped of some of his responsibilities after he was linked to a racist meme.

Patrick Reed, who also works as a public government affairs manager for the Secretary of State’s Office, was accused of sending a racist meme in an email with another state employee in August.

In the email, the state worker told Reed they did not have to attend jury duty.

Reed then responded with a meme that said, “If they’re in court they’re guilty, especially if they’re (B)lack or Mexican.”

KIRO 7 obtained a copy of the email exchange through a public documents request after receiving a tip about it.

Reed later posted a statement apologizing for his “horribly offensive mistake” to his Facebook page.

During a city council meeting on Monday, Reed’s fellow council members voted to reprimand him for violating the council’s rules and code of conduct.

“We are disappointed, and we disapprove of this councilman’s actions, whether intentional or accidental,” a written statement presented during the meeting reads in part. “Instead of sweeping this under the rug, we want to speak out so everyone knows racist and discriminatory behavior, words or attitudes are not acceptable and are not who we strive to be.”

An amendment was proposed to also remove Reed from all council committees.

The amendment tied 3-3 with Mayor Kathy Hayden breaking the tie with a yes vote.

The mayor doesn’t normally vote but can break ties in specific instances.

The final amended item with both the written reprimand and removal from all council committees passed 4-2.

In both votes, Reed recused himself.

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