Larry Kwarsick has been convicted of malfeasance

Larry Kwarsick waits for  sentencing in the
Island County Superior Court. He received 15 days in jail
and a $2,500 fine for changing planning documents related
to a building permit for a family member. He was the
part-time planner for the City of Coupeville, and
is also currently elected as the Langley Mayor.

Larry Kwarsick has spent his career working for government, but his public service has come to a screeching halt. Last Friday, Larry Kwarsick was convicted of malfeasance when he modified previously completed planning documents needed for the building permit of a family member's home.

Kwarsick who was employed as the part-time planner for the City of Coupeville, was the subject of a whistleblower complaint as reported by the South Whidbey Record:

The whistleblower, current Langley planning chief Jeff Arango, submitted the complaint to the council and it was reviewed in a series of four executive sessions at City Hall late last month. [Special inquiry judge to get Kwarsick case]

The council mulled over the complaint, determined the documents were indeed modified, and then referred the matter to the City Prosecutor. The case went to court, and on Friday Kwarsick was convicted, and sentenced to 15 days in jail and has to pay a $2,500 fine.

In December, Island County Superior Court Judge Vickie Churchill sentenced Kwarsick to 15 days in jail and ordered him to pay a $2,500 fine after he plead guilty to a gross misdemeanor charge of falsifying a city record. [Embattled Langley Mayor Kwarsick resigns his Coupeville position]

Adding more drama to the story, Kwarsick is also an elected official--he's the currently elected Langley Mayor. His fellow councilmembers have been calling for his resignation, citing the fact he is now unfit to hold office because of the malfeasance conviction.

The situation became more complicated when, in response to a brief outpouring of support by the Langley City Council and members of the community, Kwarsick announced in an email to the South Whidbey Record that he would not be stepping down as mayor.

There is some dispute about the law, but generally anyone convicted of malfeasance is not permitted to retain a public office. After Kwarsick’s announcement, Banks filed a lawsuit in Superior Court to enforce state law and boot the embattled mayor out of his jobs in Langley and Coupeville. [Embattled Langley Mayor Kwarsick resigns his Coupeville position]

Kwarsick has spent his entire career writing, and implementing land use laws. Property rights advocates have been critical of the rules saying they are too stringent--that they go beyond protection--and unnecessarily impact individual rights. Kwarsick just made their point.

You may be wondering: Is Kwarsick a Democrat or Republican? His current elected position is nonpartisan, but if his political contributions are an indication--then he's a Democrat.

Larry Kwarsick has given political donations
to Democratic candidates over the years.

Update January 11, 2012: Larry Kwarsick resigns from the Langley council. Read the story here.

Related Articles:
South Whidbey Record: Special inquiry judge to get Kwarsick case
South Whidbey Record: Embattled Langley Mayor Kwarsick resigns his Coupeville position
Whidbey News-Times: Follow the money
Washington State Public Disclosure Commission: Kwarsick's Donations
South Whidbey Record: Council continues without Kwarsick