Statement regarding Maritza Rivera’s deceptive claims in Seattle City Council District #4 race

KING COUNTY DEMOCRATS CHAIR CARRIE BARNES CALLS ON SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 4 CANDIDATE MARITZA RIVERA TO END DECEPTIVE CLAIMS REGARDING PAC FUNDING AND URGES FULL TRANSPARENCY ON CAMPAIGN FINANCES

For Immediate Release: October 11, 2023

Seattle, WA— King County Democrats Chair Carrie Barnes issued a stern call to Seattle City Council District 4 candidate Maritza Rivera today, urging her to stop defending the developer and Trump donor funded political action committee (PAC), University Neighbors Committee, supporting her candidacy. Barnes also called on Rivera to address the serious concern of failing to report all sources of income in her F1 filing, highlighting the importance of transparency and honesty in local politics.

Recent statements made by Maritza Rivera have raised questions about the integrity of her campaign and her commitment to ethical campaigning. While political discourse can be intense, honesty and transparency must remain paramount in the electoral process. King County Democrats Chair, Carrie Barnes, expressed her concern regarding Rivera’s failure to address to MAGA donors financing the PAC supporting her, and her apparent failure to report all sources of income in her campaign finance documents.

In a statement, Chair Barnes said, “The King County Democrats are saddened to see Rivera excuse away MAGA money support while claiming she represents Democratic values, and it is unacceptable that Rivera has increasingly been engaged in a mix of gaslighting and outright fabrications about her Democratic Party opponent. Defending support from big MAGA donors is one thing; adopting their deceptive gaslighting is quite another. This is disrespectful to voters, and has no place in the Democratic Party, in King County or elsewhere. We call on Rivera to cease these unacceptable behaviors.”

Barnes continued, “Additionally, it is essential that all candidates adhere to campaign finance laws and provide complete and accurate information about their financial support. We call upon Maritza Rivera to immediately rectify any discrepancies in her F1 filing, and to be forthcoming about the sources of income for her campaign.”

King County Democrats remain committed to supporting ethical, accountable, and transparent political candidates who prioritize the needs and interests of their constituents. The party hopes that Maritza Rivera will take immediate action to address these concerns and uphold the values that underpin our democratic system.

Chair Barnes concluded, “We believe that the residents of Seattle deserve a fair and honest electoral process. Our message to Maritza Rivera is simple: end the false claims, rectify the campaign finance discrepancies, and let the voters make informed decisions based on facts, not falsehoods. The voters of Seattle deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, not factual inaccuracies.”

The King County Democrats encourage open, honest, and respectful political dialogue and are dedicated to fostering a transparent and accountable political environment.