Fran McKinzie, wrapped in two blankets to fend off the cold, calls out “Hello” from her metal bench in downtown Bellevue as people hurry by. Most of the time, they don’t answer.

Bellevue City Councilwoman Kathy Welch said “political retaliation” is the motivation of a recall effort against her by councilman Pat Shannon. Shannon has accused Welch of a number of ...