‘I just don’t agree with the timing’: Gee questions councils opposing WA girls’ sports initiative

KIRO host Gee Scott agreed with Lynnwood and Edmonds city council members who voted to oppose Washington’s parental rights and girls’ sports initiatives, but he questioned their decision to weigh in while voters are filling out ballots.

On “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio, Gee separated his position on the measures from his concerns about the timing of the councils’ resolutions.

“Even though I agree, I again, I agree with what they did and what they voted on. I just don’t agree with the timing, but it’s legal,” Gee said.

KIRO host Ursula Reutin noted that Lynnwood’s council voted Monday unanimously to urge voters to reject both initiatives. Edmonds followed with a 4-0 vote, with three council members abstaining, according to My Edmonds News.

The votes prompted a question beyond the merits of either proposal: Should city councils take official positions on statewide ballot measures before the public has finished voting?

Gee supports the position, questions the process

Gee framed his reaction around a point he has returned to repeatedly on the show: Two things can be true at the same time.

He supported the council’s opposition to the initiatives while preferring that they wait until after the election to express it through an official vote.

“I just kind of disagree with the timing. I think it would have been fair to do it after the people have weighed in and fairly voted,” Gee said.

His objection was not that the councils lacked the authority to act.

State law allows local governments to adopt resolutions supporting or opposing ballot measures, provided the public has an equal opportunity to express an opposing view, such as during public comment or a hearing, according to The Everett Herald.

Parental oversight, sports eligibility and student privacy

Ursula outlined the two proposals for listeners.

One would restore an earlier version of Washington’s parental rights law, including provisions governing access to school records and when schools must notify parents. The other would prohibit students the measure defines as biologically male from participating in girls’ school sports and require a health care provider to verify the sex of students on girls’ teams.

In her summary, supporters argue the measures would strengthen parental oversight and protect fairness for female athletes. She described Lynnwood’s resolution as raising concerns about student privacy, safety and discrimination, including potential risks for LGBTQ students in unsafe homes.

Ursula also noted that the Edmonds debate included disagreement about whether council members should take sides on statewide measures at all.

That procedural concern predated the final vote, The Everett Herald reported. Earlier discussions in both cities included objections from council members who questioned using their official positions to weigh in on initiatives voters could decide for themselves.

Ursula sees council votes as another position voters can assess

Ursula approached the resolutions differently from Gee. She noted that councils commonly take such positions and suggested voters could decide whether they agreed with the members who supported them.

She also said she differed with the councils on one initiative. When Gee asked whether she meant parental rights, she confirmed it.

“Yes, exactly, exactly,” Ursula said.

Gee and Ursula’s disagreement ultimately centered on how to view the councils’ involvement: Gee supported their stance but wanted voters to weigh in first, while Ursula viewed the resolutions as positions the public could accept or reject alongside the measures themselves.

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio.