Clawson’s resignation surprises Renton council
By Karen Johnson

Times Southeast Bureau

Dan Clawson served for nearly 12 years.

In the midst of a high-profile lawsuit, Renton City Councilman Dan Clawson has resigned halfway through his third elected term in office.

He says he wants to focus more on his family and legal practice.

“It just got to be too much to keep up with things,” Clawson said.

The Renton lawyer broke the unexpected news at a Dec. 10 City Council meeting.

“It was a total surprise,” Councilman Don Persson said.

Clawson has spent nearly 12 years serving the city.

The Texas native was elected to office in 1995, but lost a 1999 re-election race to Persson. In 2000, he returned as an appointed member when Bob Edwards left to become a Port of Seattle commissioner. Clawson was re-elected in 2001 and 2005.

Although he is known for his avid support of affordable housing, downtown development and levee-improvement projects, much of his legacy will be marked by a lawsuit he filed in September against Denis Law, Persson, Randy Corman and Marcie Palmer.

Clawson accused his colleagues of violating the Open Public Meetings Act. Clawson said that the four council members communicated outside of council chambers before voting on an ordinance that would require builders to meet certain design standards on single-family homes, among other allegations. The four council members denied the charges.

Clawson says his resignation had nothing to do with the lawsuit, but it did create tension on the council.

“I’m kind of soured on the whole thing,” Clawson said. “The political climate in Renton has turned so negative that it’s almost a toxic environment.”

Fellow council members said it was difficult to work on a team whose members were bickering.

“There’s no question that Dan suing four members of the council doesn’t work toward building positive relationships,” Law said.

Clawson made no mention of the lawsuit during his resignation.

Dec. 10 was also the final meeting of outgoing councilwoman Toni Nelson and Mayor Kathy Keolker who lost her re-election bid last month to Law.

Clawson is one of three council members who endorsed Keolker.

He leaves his position Jan. 1 along with Keolker and Nelson. The City Council will appoint a replacement to fill his seat next year.

Clawson hopes his departure will help improve the atmosphere on the council. “If resigning will help them conduct more business, this will be a positive thing,” he said.

Karen Johnson: 253-234-8605 or karenjohnson@seattletimes.com.