Charges leveled by Seattle City Councilmember District 1 incumbent Lisa Herbold against her opponent Phil Tavel of a list of business dissolutions and financial mismanagement during their Thursday evening debate, and in a letter to constituents later drew a strong defense from Tavel himself on Friday. 

Tavel's campaign sent the following statement to media:

"Yesterday during the Seattle City Club debate Councilmember Herbold made a baseless claim against Phil Tavel and the past businesses that he was involved with.

These desperate attacks are coming from an incumbent that wants to talk about anything other than her failing record. This disappointing rhetoric is distracting voters from the real issues that Seattle is facing, and that have only gotten worse in her two decades at City Council.

“I was the Certified Public Accountant for BusinessIQ.” Said Rick Rutherford, CPA, MS, MBA and former business partner of Tavel “A federal and state tax lien in addition to a contractor dispute with BusinessIQ all occurred prior to Phil Tavel’s involvement with this business. He learned of these items subsequent to his involvement and subsequently terminated his interest in this company. Mr. Tavel was never assigned personal liability for any of these debts as he was deemed to not be knowing or responsible for them.”

“I am disappointed that this is the tone that Councilmember Herbold set after calling for civility and a clean campaign” Tavel said. “This false rhetoric does not belong on the campaign trail. I will use my background as a small business owner to ensure we have trust and accountability within our City Council. My mediation skills as a trial lawyer and public defender will work to bring people together to work collaboratively with stakeholders, not alienate them like our current City Council has done.”

One of Tavel’s businesses, Seattle Asian Medicine and Martial Arts was a company started by Dan Cashman, his wife Wanda, and Tavel. "I am a veteran and small business owner in Seattle and I've had the good fortune to know and work with Phil for almost ten years. He is a smart, professional, and highly motivated community leader with a broad background of organizational and communication experience. I am incredibly disappointed to hear a local elected representative flinging disparaging remarks towards him. Especially in light of the ugly and partisan political landscape that we voters have to deal with today. Phil is both trustworthy and honest and to suggest otherwise speaks poorly both of their character and their decision-making ability." Said Cashman.

As for the business allegations Herbold was trying to make, Tavel was clear that while he helped friends start businesses, he was the silent partner and let his business partners take the lead. It is obvious that these false claims show how much our city needs change and a real leader in City Council. We need a leader that is ready to tackle the issues at hand, not alienate residents and distract voters. It is now blatantly clear that Phil Tavel is the choice for District 1. Endorsed by over 100 small businesses within our district that form the heart and soul of West Seattle and South Park Phil is ready to tackle Seattle’s toughest issues and not play games with the future of our city."