A mayor from a Seattle suburb who separated from her husband last year now faces an official investigation over allegations of an affair with her married deputy, who has a scandalous past.
The Everett City Council voted unanimously earlier this week to hire a law firm to investigate whether Mayor Cassie Franklin’s personal relationship with Deputy Mayor Nick Harper violated law or policy or resulted in the misuse of city resources.
She has neither confirmed nor denied claims that she is in a relationship with Harper.
“If there is anything you would like to discuss with me, I am available and will fully participate. My focus is to keep doing the work for the community and taking care of the city. I look forward to continuing to work with the City Council to lead the city,” Franklin said.
“My personal life is my personal life,” she told The Herald.
Harper, a former senator who is married with two children, was hired by Franklin in 2018.
He hasn’t commented on the alleged relationship, although it wouldn’t be the first time he’s been involved in an alleged affair.
A law firm investigates a possible personal relationship between Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin and Deputy Mayor Nick Harper
He resigned as a Democratic Senator from Washington state in 2013 over allegations of extramarital shenanigans.
And in another harrowing twist, his wife, Lacey, serves as executive director of the Snohomish Council — which owns the city of Everett and is closely associated with her husband’s office.
After winning his Democratic seat in 2010, he was forced to leave office in 2013 after rumors of an extramarital affair surfaced.
Harper explained his departure as wanting to spend more time with family and “my work at Olympia takes me far too far away from my family.”
Council President Brenda Stonecipher has engaged the services of the law firm Stokes Lawrence to conduct the official inquiry, with the Council also hiring outside legal advisers to oversee the work.
Franklin did not attend the meeting, which was held remotely for nearly an hour. She then declined to comment on the Council’s decision.
A meeting was held remotely for almost an hour. Franklin later declined to comment on the council’s decision to investigate their alleged relationship
“I support the move to further investigate the circumstances and details of this personal relationship,” Stonecipher said in a statement Wednesday.
“I truly hope and expect that this work will not uncover any wrongdoing, but I believe that as Council Members it is important to conduct this investigation to ensure our government is operating effectively and lawfully so that we maintain our collective trust in integrity and can protect our city government.’
Only one other council member commented: “It’s difficult but necessary,” said Liz Vogeli.
Franklin was the city’s first female mayor when she was elected in 2017 and won re-election in 2021. On her campaign website, she explained that she “enjoys spending time with her husband.”
Everett Deputy Mayor Nick Harper, left, is pictured with his wife, Lacey, in a 2014 snap
Nick Harper’s wife, Lacey, also works for the council, as does the executive director of the Snohomish County Executive Office
She filed for divorce from her husband in November last year after 14 years of marriage.
The couple had a daughter together. Court records show the couple lived apart as of July, with their marriage reportedly “broken up irretrievably.”
Franklin said she was informed by city human resources officials last summer that no city policy would be violated if she was in a consensual relationship with a city employee.
As mayor and chief executive of the city, Franklin has the ability to appoint and fire most of the city’s appointed officers and employees.
The investigation examines whether Mayor Cassie Franklin’s personal relationship with Deputy Mayor Nick Harper, seen here left and far right, violates law or policy, or results in the misuse of city resources
Franklin, the city’s first elected mayor, split from her husband late last year
Franklin (second from right) filed for divorce from her husband in November last year after 14 years of marriage
Franklin said she was informed by city human resources officials last summer that no city policy would be violated if she was in a consensual relationship with a city employee