IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
IN THE MATTER OF: NO. 105253-7
THE RECALL OF WILLIAM O’NEIL, EN BANC
PORT OF BENTON COMMISSIONER,
DISTRICT 1
__________________________________ Filed August 20, 2026
IN THE MATTER OF:
THE RECALL OF SCOTT KELLER,
PORT OF BENTON COMMISSIONER,
DISTRICT 2
__________________________________
IN THE MATTER OF:
THE RECALL OF LORI STEVENS,
PORT OF BENTON COMMISSIONER,
DISTRICT 3
GORDON MCCLOUD, J.—Voters in Benton County petitioned to recall all
three commissioners of the Port of Benton: Scott Keller, William O’Neil, and Lori
Stevens. The trial court dismissed most of the petitions’ 13 charges against each
In re Recall of William O’Neil et al., No.105253-7
commissioner. But it upheld two charges against each of the three commissioners,
along with one additional charge against Keller alone.
Those first two charges involve the Port commissioners’ decisions to suspend
Port Executive Director Diahann Howard and to fire Port Finance Director Alicia
Myers. The recall proponents allege that the commissioners suspended Howard and
fired Myers in retaliation for lodging complaints about Keller and publicizing the
results of the investigation prompted by those complaints. The one additional charge
against Keller alone involves an inaccuracy on Keller’s financial disclosure form.
The commissioners appealed the trial court’s decision to this court; the recall
proponents did not cross-appeal. We affirm the trial court’s decision in all respects.
FACTS AND BACKGROUND
The Port employed Keller in various positions for 30 years, including as
airport manager and executive director. Keller retired from the Port after spending
19 years as executive director. He returned to the Port in 2023 after Benton