Spokane Valley City Council votes to censure councilmember Al Merkel [Video]

SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — Spokane Valley City Council has voted to censure councilmember Al Merkel after the hearing examiner found that he violated the city’s social media policy.

According to the City of Spokane Valley, Merkel requested a public hearing before hearing examiner Andrew Kottkamp to contest findings against him.

The city said Kottkamp’s report found Merkel violated the Spokane Valley Council Conduct Standards and Social Media Policy. The report also said Merkel posted to the Nextdoor app for city business, later editing some of those posts. The report also found that Merkel violated the Public Record Act by changing declarations regarding his search for public records.

City Council unanimously voted to censure Merkel for posting about city business on his personal social media account, along with revising declarations regarding his search for public …