Full text of letter sent from councilor Richard Huddy to the Kitsap News Group on December 25.

“On December 17, 2018, after a six-week probe prompted by a false accusation, a professional investigator found no serious misconduct on my part. No instances of sexual jokes, innuendoes or advances, no inappropriate touching, and no requests for private meetings.

Nonetheless, on December 19, 2018, in a new-low for Kitsap County politics, I was censured by the Bremerton City Council for conduct that was characterized as “overly familiar” and “mildly flirtatious.” Many who know me have already expressed support for me and contempt for the Council. Even if the report was accurate, the Council’s action was excessive and unjustified.

I would resign my council seat immediately if the report was accurate, but it is not. The charges against me are false. The characterizations of what I said and did were distorted. The investigator accepted convincing lies, false accusations and damaging mischaracterizations as truth. The investigator also withheld information from me that effectively prevented me from helping her separate fact from fiction. I was not afforded due process.

The Council accepted a flawed report as accurate, rushed to judgement, and did not give me the opportunity to refute allegations of which I first became aware when the report was published on December 17. Acting in haste, the Council’s vote for censure was a terrible disservice to the City, my District 6 constituents, my friends, my family and me.

Sabrina and I are devastated by the wrongful actions of the City of Bremerton and the Bremerton City Council. This is the worst thing that has ever happened to us. I have been publicly shamed. My reputation is ruined. My political career is irreparably damaged. The official act of censure by the City Council will be forever linked to my name.

Going forward in the midst of the hyper-sensitive #Me Too movement, I will observe tighter boundaries in my future interactions with people of all ages, but that is not what this is about. This is a malicious personal attack designed to eliminate me from local government.

My solace at this time comes from the steadfast support of my wife, family and friends, and the certainty that I am innocent of anything beyond mild social naivete and being blind-sided by a political enemy. I am determined to exonerate myself and restore my good name.

With the support of District 6 residents, I will continue to represent my constituents to the best of my ability for the remainder of my term which ends on December 31, 2019.”