Kennewick Mayor Fired From Day Job

KENNEWICK, Wash. (AP) – Kennewick Mayor Don Britain has been fired from his job at the state Department of Social and Health Services after the Washington State Patrol investigated a complaint about an “inappropriate relationship” with a female client.

Britain told the Tri-City Herald he was disappointed by the move Tuesday to terminate him.

Britain says he regularly provides food and other items to families he encountered as a case manager administering the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program.

DSHS received an anonymous complaint against Britain in September.

Britain told investigators he offered to let the client and her children stay at his apartment when he found out she was in danger of losing her housing in January. He says he didn’t notify his supervisor about the unusual living arrangements because it wasn’t romantic and wasn’t expected to be permanent.

A department official in a statement said he was deeply disappointed by Britain’s willful violations of agency’s policies.
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Information from: Tri-City Herald, http://www.tri-cityherald.com