City Manager Pat McDonnell Asked to Resign

McDonnell takes heat for settlement

Tuesday, September 16 | 12:04 a.m.
By JEFFREY MIZE COLUMBIAN STAFF WRITER

The spotlight in the discrimination case involving a former Vancouver police officer shifted to City Manager Pat McDonnell, with a half dozen speakers asking Monday for an independent outside investigation or for McDonnell’s resignation.

Those requests were prompted by last week’s announcement that Vancouver would pay former Officer Navin K. Sharma $1.65 million to end a federal racial discrimination lawsuit.

“I have lost confidence in the city manager,” said Quan Tran, former president of the local American Civil Liberties Union during Monday night’s city council meeting. “I am asking him to step down.”

Tran said he believes “all the mess” was created by McDonnell and City Attorney Ted Gathe’s office.

Following the meeting, an obviously dejected McDonnell said he does not plan to resign. But he conceded the meeting had a “huge” effect on him personally, adding that he had never been publicly asked to resign during his 30 years working in government.

“This is absolutely not what I stand for and who I am,” he said. “But I understand being a city manager, I am ultimately responsible.” Click here to read More...