Why It Matters
A former Washington mayor’s legal claim against her city raises questions about the limits of legislative authority over elected officials who attend religious or political events. The case could have implications for how local governments respond to controversial public appearances by officeholders.
Nadine Woodward, who lost her reelection as Spokane mayor in 2023, now contends that the city council violated her constitutional rights when it censured her for appearing at a worship service featuring conservative religious leaders.
What Happened
Woodward filed an amended tort claim in mid-April seeking $10 million from the city of Spokane and four council members. The claim stems from an August 2023 censure resolution passed after she appeared on stage at a Let Us Worship event organized by conservative pastor Sean Feucht.
During the event, former Washington state legislator Matt Shea blessed Woodward and the two embraced on stage. Shea had been expelled from the GOP caucus in the Washington House in 2019 after being labeled a domestic terrorist threat. Shortly before introducing Woodward at the event, Shea had compared same-sex marriage and transgender rights to recent wildfire devastation in nearby communities.
The Spokane City Council passed a resolution denouncing Woodward’s attendance at the event after video of her appearance circulated widely on newscasts. Three months later, Woodward lost her reelection bid to Democrat Lisa Brown.
By The Numbers
• $10 million: Amount Woodward now seeks in damages
• $1.5 million: Original claim amount filed in 2024
• 4: Number of council members named as defendants
• 3 months: Time between censure and election defeat
The Legal Claims
Woodward’s attorney, Mary Schultz, argues the censure constituted an abuse of legislative power that violated Woodward’s constitutional rights. The claim alleges the city and council members engaged in character assassination that led to media harassment, social estrangement, and loss of business and professional opportunities.
Schultz wrote that neither federal nor state constitutions permit legislators to punish local officials for attending events to hear political or religious views being discussed in the community. The claim asks a court to declare the censure resolution unconstitutional, order it vacated, and award damages.
After the censure, Woodward denounced Shea as a threat to democracy and distanced herself from his political views. She maintained she had not known Shea would be present and believed the event’s purpose was to pray for wildfire victims. Shea disputed this explanation, stating on social media that the annual worship event had been planned months before the fires and that Woodward had accepted an invitation before the fires started.
What’s Next
The city has declined to comment on the amended claim. Woodward, who now works as a real estate agent, awaits a response from the city regarding her demand for damages and the requested court declaration that the censure violated her constitutional rights.
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