KING COUNTY, Wash. — King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci is publicly accusing the council of wasting more than $300,000 on election flyers and miscellaneous purposes at a time when the county is simultaneously talking about millions in budget cuts.

The accusation has rankled her colleagues and prompted a strong reaction from her main opponent in the race for King County Executive, Girmay Zahilay, who has accused Balducci of executing a “desperate political stunt.”

The controversy started back on April 1, after a seemingly innocuous Employment and Administration Committee meeting. In that meeting, the council’s staff discussed directing $35,000 to each district representative. The meeting’s video is not available on the county’s website. Zahilay chairs the committee and the Counci

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