We could have saved this for On Other Blogs Today, but it seemed bizarre enough to deserve a post of its own: Two cities north of Seattle are embroiled in bizarre battles that put Seattle's quotidian disputes (tunnel, phone books, yawn) to shame.

First, in Kenmore, the city manager, Fred Stouder, is suing a city council member named John Henrickson, accusing him of libel and slander for claiming that the council and city staff have grossly underestimated the city's budget deficit and mishandled funds needed for road maintenance. By a 6-1 vote (with Hendrickson dissenting), the council voted to authorize the lawsuit and to censure Hendrickson "“for gross misrepresentation of the council.”

I can't make heads or tails of this story, so here's an excerpt from the Bothell Reporter:

Councilmember Allan Van Ness accused Hendrickson of distorting facts, of “telling outright lies.”

“It’s become so disruptive, we had to take it to the next level,” Van Ness said.

He contended that staffers, from City Manager Frederick Stouder on down, spend an inordinate amount of time responding to Hendrickson’s questions and alleged accusations.

“He’s questioned their behavior one too many times,” Baker said.

“It’s not just this one thing,” Stouder said, before declining further comment, citing the possibility of legal action.

“The issue here was just about accounting irregularities,” Hendrickson said. “I have struggled with (Stouder) for the last two years to try and understand our financial position.”

While he stated he was not out to hurt Stouder, he produced several documents alleging problems Stouder supposedly had in other cities. He also has a handwritten letter, which he claims Stouder gave to council and in which Stouder seemed to resign.

In the letter, dated December 2009, apparently responding to comments from Hendrickson, Stouder states he did not threaten the councilmember.

Regarding the city’s current financial status, Hendrickson claims monies that were supposed to go into road maintenance were put in different funds, partly paying for construction of Kenmore’s recently opened new City Hall, a project he strongly opposed.

Meanwhile, in Lynnwood, the city council called for the resignation of Lynnwood Mayor  Don Gough; if Gough does not resign, the council demanded (by 6-1 vote) that he take anger management and sensitivity classes.

The Seattle Times:

Speaking before a packed audience, Councilmember Jim Smith said "Between the mayor's mismanagement of funds and mismanagement of employees, he should resign."

The action came after an investigation into a claim by his former assistant that he routinely swore at her and insulted her. A follow-up investigation, ordered by the council, raised concerns that Gough had interfered in the probe and had threatened to retaliate against employees who cooperated, according to city council members.