I'm told by sources there is a lot to today's story in the Seattle Times on Port candidate Gael Tarleton's potential troubles with the PDC. She appears to have campaigned for public office at length while on the public clock at the UW and while using public equipment:

Twenty of the e-mails basically tell friends, family and colleagues that she is running for office and describe the commission post, which is part-time and pays $6,000 a year.

The other 18 e-mails go further. Some criticize Edwards, some ask people to vote for her, some ask people to serve as advisers. One asks for a campaign contribution. Another asks for help getting speaking engagements and corporate support. Another asks her campaign aides to add contributor names to a database.

This is a profound no-no on both fronts, which just about any public employee knows as a basic rule of thumb in the workplace. The very fact Tarleton reacted by saying she'll turn herself into the PDC (likely to get in front of the story), tells just how extensive a violation it is.