An ex Washington state mayor is seeking $10 million from the city she used to run after facing backlash for what was said on stage during a 2023 prayer service.
Former Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward filed a tort claim in 2024 after appearing at a 'Let Us Worship' event headlined by conservative politician Matt Shea and Christian singer Sean Feucht.
Shea, former Washington legislator, compared LGBTQ+ marriage and transgender rights to the detrimental Gray and Oregon Road wildfires before bringing the ex-mayor on stage, Spokesman reported.
The conservative politician hugged and 'blessed' Woodward onstage, drawing pushback from the community and city council, according to KXLY.
The Spokane City Council passed a resolution, or formal statement, condemning Woodward’s appearance, and weeks later she lost her bid to remain mayor.
Shortly after the public outcry, the former mayor denounced Shea to distance himself from his political views, calling him 'a threat to democracy.'
Woodward said she didn’t know Shea would be there and thought the event was a prayer service for wildfire victims.
Nadine Woodward, former mayor of Spokane, Washington
But Shea took to X and called out her claims, stating the event was planned before the fires started.
'It wasn’t for "fire victims." She was invited and she accepted BEFORE the fires started,' he wrote.
Woodward originally filed a $1.4 million claim against the city, claiming the council's resolution was a violation of her First Amendment rights.
Her attorney, Mary Schultz, revised the claim to $10 million, saying the council’s actions were 'unlawful government punishment.'
City council member Zack Zappone co-sponsored the resolution against Woodward and said in 2024 that the council was within its rights to condemn her actions.
'The Council’s decision to denounce former Mayor Woodward by resolution in September 2023 was within its legal authority, warranted as a matter of policy, and completely constitutional.'
Matt Shea, former Washington state legislator
Christian singer and songwriter Sean Freucht
'Council Member Zappone strongly denies the claims and allegations in Former Mayor Woodward’s claim for damages, just like Sean Feucht’s complaint, and is confident the legal process will reject them, too,' Zappone wrote.
The resolution was passed on September 24, 2023, and Woodward lost the election to current mayor Lisa Brown.
Woodward lost with 47.7 percent of the vote, while Brown won with 51.7 percent.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Woodward and Shea for comment.