Bruce Harrell Gets Do-Over On Ethics Filing

Last month, HardPressed reported that former Seattle mayor Bruce Harrell, his wife, and other Seattle officials traveled to New Orleans to attend a Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) conference.

As part of their pitch, CAM offered to pay for Harrell's travel, including flights, hotel and ground transportation.

Seattle Ethics and Election Commission (SEEC) Executive Director Wayne Barnett told HardPressed in February that "the former mayor will have to report this on his F-1 [ethics filing], but it’s not due until April 15." 

On April 16, HardPressed requested and received Harrell's completed F-1A filing which did not self-disclose his gifted travel to New Orleans.

Open and shut? Not so much.

The next day, on April 17, after disclosing Harrell's filing, SEEC Public Information Officer Polly Grow wrote to Hard Pressed that she noticed something off.

"After providing you with Mr. Harrell's 2026 F-1a I noticed that the instructions in the Food Travel Seminars section were truncated," Grow wrote to HardPressed.  "The instructions should have read: Complete this section if a source other than your own governmental agency paid for or otherwise provided all or a portion of the following items to you, your spouse, registered domestic partner or dependents, or a combination thereof:  1) Food and beverages costing over $50 per occasion; 2) Travel occasions; or 3) Seminars, educational programs or other training.  Items 2) and 3) were omitted from the form SEEC provided to Mr. Harrell. I have contacted Mr. Harrell to see if an amendment is required and will let you know once I hear back from him."

Hours later, Harrell resubmitted an amended F-1A, which included self-disclosure of his gifted travel to New Orleans.

Harrell wrote to Grow, "per our discussion, I am submitting an amended and dated F-1A providing additional information under Food Travel Seminars. As we discussed, the City of Seattle's form was inaccurate and I correctly completed the form in a timely manner. Now, after the 4/15/26 deadline, the City has asked that I complete it again because of the error on the form which has now (after the deadline) been corrected."

However, the form Harrell resubmitted on April 17 was identical to the one he first signed on March 13.

"This was through no fault of mine as the City provided the incomplete form," Harrell continued. "I have voluntarily completed the form which now asks for more information and re-dated it per your request. You have also agreed to make sure the Clerk has been furnished with a copy of the amended form. If my form remains incomplete or I have misstated or mischaracterized any elements of the issue, please advise. Thank you for your professionalism and responsiveness."

Harrell did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment from HardPressed. The phone number Harrell provided on his ethics form is a city government number. If a response is received, this report will be updated.

Harrell also self-disclosed his estimated net worth at $18,595,284.