A former Battle Ground, Washington city manager has notified city officials she may sue. An Aug. 28 letter obtained by OPB alleges the city violated federal, state and local laws when councilors fired Kris Swanson last month.

The letter from Swanson’s attorney is the latest incident in a turbulent summer for the Southwest Washington city council, one that’s included politically charged proclamations at city meetings, hours of public comment and protests.

Through Portland attorney Sue-Del McCulloch, Swanson’s letter alleges the council’s vote to terminate her violated laws “governing retaliation, discrimination, open public meetings, and municipal employees’ right to respond to complaints against them.”

The claims are directed at the city and specifically the four councilors who voted Aug. 5 to remove Swanson without cause: Mayor Eric Overholser and councilors Brian Munson, Victoria Ferrer and Aimee Vaile.

Interim City Manager Robert Ferrier confirmed that his office had received the notice but said the city does not comment on personnel matters or potential litigation. Overholser did not respond to a request for comment, neither did Swanson’s attorney.

Her letter instructs the city to keep records that could become evidence in a lawsuit.

Swanson was fired in a 4-3 vote during a special meeting announced with the minimum 24-hours public notice. The vote took place two days after she received a positive performance review and a raise from councilors.

Swanson had previously been the subject of an independent investigation into complaints against her from several members of the Battle Ground police department, but the resulting report cleared her of any wrongdoing in June.

Her attorney’s letter lays out a growing conflict between Swanson and Battle Ground Police Chief Dennis Flynn, whom she oversaw. Flynn did not respond to a request for comment.

Swanson contends her termination came without legally required notice, since she was not made aware of complaints against her from two police lieutenants and did not have a chance to respond to them. It alleges city councilors may have broken open meetings laws by coordinating their votes outside of public view and that she was subjected to gender discrimination when she was fired and replaced by a male subordinate.

This summer’s firing and the potential litigation are eerily similar to a series of incidents involving Swanson at her previous job as city manager for the City of Longview. She was fired from that role in 2023.

In the process, that city council was also accused of planning votes behind closed doors. Residents sued over alleged violations of the state’s Open Meetings Act. The resulting legal costs, staffing fees, and a settlement out of court ultimately cost the City of Longview more than $500,000.

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/09/04/fired-battle-ground-city-manager-letter-warns-possible-lawsuit/