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Whitman County Commissioners vote to support sheriff joining lawsuit against SB 5974
Summary
The Whitman County Board voted to support the sheriff joining a lawsuit challenging SB 5974, citing constitutional concerns raised by the county's assistant prosecutor and echoed by Sheriff Brett Myers. The board approved the support by motion.
The Whitman County Board of Commissioners voted to support the county sheriff joining a lawsuit challenging Senate Bill 5974, which county legal staff said contains constitutional defects.
Assistant County Prosecutor Dan LeBeau told the board that "there are several aspects of the bill that are unconstitutional," including provisions that could prevent a person from filing for sheriff and provisions related to recall and perjury-swearing requirements. Sheriff Brett Myers told the board the bill "takes the voice of the people away," and said it singles out the sheriff's office rather than other elected positions.
The motion to support the sheriff joining the suit was made by Commissioner Chad Whetzel and seconded by Commissioner Tom Handy; the minutes record that the motion "was carried." The action was recorded on the May 11, 2026 meeting agenda under item 21B. The board also previously authorized a letter of opposition to SB 5974.
The county's legal concerns were described during the board's discussion; no court filing text is included in the minutes and no vote tally by individual commissioner is recorded in the transcript.
