Burien City Councilman Stephen Lamphear announced last week that his campaign is complying with the Washington Fair Campaign Practices Code.

That code requires political campaigns to be conducted in a fair and ethical manner.

Lamphear said he and his campaign "do not authorize any form of smear tactics by anyone, whether connected with the campaign or not, against any other candidate."

The two-term lawmaker is being challenged by former Councilwoman Rose Clark. Signs opposing Clark, which depict the international "no" symbol imposed over a rose, have been placed around Burien.

But, said Lamphear, "Negative campaigning and smear tactics not only damage the civility of our community but threaten our democracy.

"Local officials are our neighbors and they do the public's business to the best of their ability."

He noted that the Washington Administrative Code states that candidates and political action committees "shall not participate in and shall condemn'personal vilification, defamation, and other attacks on any opposing candidate' which are not 'truthful, provable and relevant' to the election."

Lamphear added that "such tactics are not conducive to the proper spirit of civic discourse."