A squib of local politics for your Friday afternoon—the campaign of current port commissioner Gael Tarleton, who is running for state representative in the 36th district, is claiming to have the endorsement of SEAMEC (the Seattle Metropolitan Elections Committee, which focuses on LGBTQ issues). The thing is, she doesn't have SEAMEC's endorsement.

The Tarleton people claim she has the SEAMEC endorsement in some door-belling flyers and on her website. (Images below the jump.)

When asked about it this afternoon, Tarleton said: "No campaign literature says we earned their endorsement. It said we earned their highest rating."

That first sentence is false, but the second is true—both Tarleton and her opponent Noel Frame got SEAMEC's highest rating (five As), but SEAMEC made no endorsement in the race. This may seem like splitting hairs, but it's curious that Tarleton doesn't seem to know exactly what her campaign is doing, and this isn't the first time.

Back in April, Tarleton got a smack from the Teamsters local 174, who demanded that the Tarleton campaign take the Teamsters logo off all her campaign literature. Their cease and desist letter stated: "Teamsters Local 174 will not endorse your candidacy for state legislature based on your long record of anti-labor activities."

SEAMEC secretary-treasurer Mike Andrews said the false claims of the Tarleton campaign were "distressing, because whether it's an accidental misrepresentation or a willful misrepresentation, it's still a misrepresentation." Rob Hearne, the vice chair and former executive director for Equal Rights Washington PAC said Frame did get that organization's endorsement because while "both have a bona fide good record on the issues... Noel makes them a priority."

UPDATE

Sue Evans from the Tarleton campaign responds:

"That's an honest mistake by the campaign staff... We are correcting it. We apologize for the misunderstanding, but are obviously proud that Gael has received top ratings from SEAMEC."