Washington State’s Supreme Court Blocks Thurston County Sheriff Recall Effort

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) – Washington’s Supreme Court has unanimously rejected a recall effort against the Thurston County sheriff.

Resident Arthur West sought to recall Sheriff John Snaza, citing his announcement last June that he would not criminally enforce the Health Department’s COVID-19 mask mandate.

The justices said Snaza had discretion in how to enforce the mandate.

They noted that Snaza encouraged people to take safety precautions, and they said that not directly citing or arresting people was reasonable because doing so could risk transmission of the virus.