King County Assessor apologizes, won’t seek reelection after stalking scandal

King County Assessor John Arthur Wilson has apologized for his behavior earlier this year, when an arrest prompted him to suspend his campaign for top county official.

Wilson also won’t run for reelection for his current job, he announced Tuesday in a Facebook post.

“I want to make my sincere apology to my former fiancée, Lee Keller. I fell short of the standards of behavior I have always tried to practice. I ask her forgiveness,” Wilson wrote on Facebook. “I also apologize to long-time friends like you, colleagues, the fantastic Department of Assessments team, campaign supporters, and the public. I let you down.”

Keller was granted a temporary restraining order against Wilson earlier this year, and then Wilson was arrested outside her Seattle home in July on suspicion of stalking.

RELATED: King County assessor arrested at home of ex-fiancée amid stalking investigation

In a text to KUOW, Keller confirmed all legal action has been dismissed.

"I accept his kind and thoughtful apology that was clearly done with sincerity. I am relieved to be moving forward," Keller said. "John and I are at peace with each other. I am not discussing my personal life further. Thank you."

Wilson said in the Facebook post that all civil legal matters between them had been dismissed, and that “no criminal charges have been filed,” presumably in the stalking investigation.

But Michael Held, chief of staff for the Snohomish County prosecutor, said a charging decision is “forthcoming, though I do not have a specific timetable.”

“I allowed ego, pride, and jealousy to override kindness, grace, and thoughtfulness. While I have never intentionally harmed anyone, I have caused pain and turmoil and undermined the trust I have built with so many people, both personally and professionally,” Wilson wrote on Facebook. “For all of this, I am deeply and genuinely sorry. Moving forward, I will continue to work on becoming a better person and a more effective leader.”

Wilson has been county assessor for a decade, managing the department that appraises taxable value of properties countywide, and launched a bid for county executive last year.

But in January, the Seattle Times reported Keller had filed a restraining order against him last year before letting it lapse, reconciling, and agreeing to marry Wilson.

RELATED: 'Stormy' relationship or stalking? King County assessor faces resignation calls over restraining order

Then, in May, Keller filed another restraining order, and a number of local elected officials, along with the King County Democrats, called on Wilson to resign.

King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci was a leading voice for Wilson's resignation and a top contender against him for county executive (she beat Wilson and made it into the top two in August's primary, but trailed fellow councilmember Girmay Zahilay in first). When asked if Wilson should still step down, Balducci said yes.

"Today, just minutes before I lead the County Council in proclaiming October to be Domestic Violence Awareness month, Assessor Wilson released his statement accepting responsibility and apologizing for his actions in stalking and harassing his former partner over a period of months," Balducci told KUOW via text. "I am glad that we now have some resolution to this difficult matter and look forward to moving on with new leadership at the Assessor’s Office. I hope going forward that our leaders’ actions will match our words."