The Seattle City Council's parks committee chair, Sally Bagshaw, opposes Seattle Park and Recreation Superintendent Tim Gallagher’s blanket ban on smoking in parks, according to staff speaking on her behalf this afternoon.

One of Bagshaw’s aides says that the council member respects the work done by the board of park commissioners—which recommended a ban on smoking at beaches, playgrounds, and play fields, as well as a 25-foot ban on smoking around other people—and thought their limitation was very reasonable. She is disappointed that their hard work has been bypassed, even going so far as to use the term ‘nanny state’ to describe Gallagher’s ban.

Gallagher, of course, can’t be reached for comment because he is now on vacation.