YAKIMA, Wash. -- Former mayor Paul George kicked off his campaign for the Yakima City Council today and came out swinging.

“I just want to say that I am not endorsed by Bruce Smith,” he said, referring to the publisher and editor of the Yakima Valley Business Times who has emerged in recent weeks as a behind-the-scenes player in City Hall politics.

During a news conference at the Howard Johnson Plaza hotel, George accused Smith and several council members he’s worked with of trying to “subvert” the city’s council-manager form of government.

If elected, he promised to ask “citizens to reaffirm our council-manager form of government and move on.”“

George, who was mayor from 2004-05, filed late Friday against newly appointed Councilwoman Maureen Adkison. He was ousted by Bill Lover in 2005 after serving one term.

He and Adkison are vying for Yakima’s District 1 seat, which covers much of West Valley. But George had little to say about his opponent, except that “she’s a nice person.” When questioned by a reporter on issues, George said he found her recent vote on the Yakima Fire Department’s request to permit paramedic training “incomprehensible.”

Although she’s a major player in local Republican politics and George is active in the local Democratic party, he noted that City Council races are nonpartisan and that he intended to.

“What’s so partisan about a pothole?” he asked.

George’s dig at Smith was reference to recent controvery over an April 14 City Council vote to change the way the council develops its budget. City documents released to the public weeks later showed that the newspaper publisher had worked with Council members Rick Ensey and Kathy Coffey to line up support for the council vote before council members met in public.

Last week the city settled a lawsuit by a local attorney who claimed council members had violated the state Open Public Meetings Act, which sets guidelines for city councils, county commissions and other governing bodies in Washington state.

- Chris Bristol