An “inflammatory, distasteful” postcard mailer sent out by the Kathy Lambert campaign to residents of King County Council District 3 prompted Seattle King County Realtors (SKCR) to withdraw its endorsement of the council member, according to a press release. 

The mailer showed Girmay Zahilay, the only Black member of the County Council, photoshopped into a pinstriped suit and red bow tie, holding the strings attached to a picture of Sarah Perry, Lambert’s opponent in the November election.

“As Realtors, we strongly believe in our Code of Ethics and its aspirational ideals. We hold ourselves accountable to its values,” said Eddie Chang, SKCR’s vice president of governmental and public affairs. “Likewise, we hold all candidates accountable to the spirit of the RPAC Statement of Values and Principles.”

Due to the mailer’s imagery and content, SKCR’s board of directors revoked the May endorsement of Lambert and has requested its campaign contribution to be returned, a notion fully supported by Washington Realtors, according to its own statement.

“As a policy, Washington Realtors hold our endorsed candidates for elected office to a high standard of respect for all people in the community and have zero tolerance for any expression of racism or discrimination. The Lambert campaign’s use of offensive and inappropriate imagery fell far short of this standard,” said Nathan Gorton, Washington Realtors Government Affairs Director “Washington Realtors condemn the Lambert campaign’s mail piece, support the Seattle King County Realtors’ decision to rescind their endorsement of Lambert and call on the Lambert campaign to return the contribution our PAC made to her campaign.”

While SKCR’s online Realtor Voting Guide has been updated accordingly, the printed version cannot be amended, as it was published before this incident, the release said.