The only thing more amusing than reporting that Ron Sims has an out-of-county nephew registered to vote at his house, is reporting that said out-of-county nephew actually voted claiming Ron Sims' address as his residence while he was living in a different state.
Donald C Sims, Jr did not vote in King County in the November 2004 general election, but he did vote absentee in the September 2004 primary when Uncle Ron was on the ballot. According to Donald Sims' own bio he was living and working in New York City (Staten Island) during last year's primary. He had not voted in King County since 1998. He is not a permanent absentee voter and he does not have a mailing address other than his "residence" at Uncle Ron's house. The various election databases suggest that Don Jr. requested a one-off absentee ballot issued for the September primary and sent to him at his uncle's house. This also suggests that somebody from Uncle Ron's household had to have been involved in delivering the absentee ballot to their New York relative who was not qualified to vote in Washington state.
I just sent a public records request to Dean Logan for a copy of Don Jr.'s absentee ballot envelope to glean some more details.
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at August 09, 2005 11:41 PM | Email ThisIt's a really lame policy or law (whichever it is) and I hate that this may possibly be legal.
But it is certainly worth looking into, because who knows--what his nephew did certainly looks screwy; and the MSM better jump on this one and scream it from the mountaintops!
Why didn't Ron Sims go the extra mile to help get Gregoire elected in November 2004?
Posted by: Richard Pope on August 10, 2005 12:10 AMThis is great sleuthing!!
Posted by: Jeremy on August 10, 2005 12:15 AMJust a prediction but I feel a BIG STONE WALL of information requests coming soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Joe on August 10, 2005 02:24 AMTotally sickening!!
Posted by: swatter on August 10, 2005 07:34 AMARTICLE VI
ELECTIONS AND ELECTIVE RIGHTS
SECTION 1 QUALIFICATIONS OF ELECTORS.
All persons of the age of eighteen years or over who are citizens of the United States and who have lived in the state, county, and precinct thirty days immediately preceding the election at which they offer to vote, except those disqualified by Article VI, Section 3 of this Constitution, shall be entitled to vote at all elections. [AMENDMENT 63, 1974 Senate Joint Resolution No. 143, p 807. Approved November 5, 1974.]
SECTION 4 RESIDENCE, CONTINGENCIES AFFECTING.
For the purpose of voting and eligibility to office no person shall be deemed to have gained a residence by reason of his presence or lost it by reason of his absence, while in the civil or military service of the state or of the United States, nor while a student at any institution of learning, nor while kept at public expense at any poor-house or other asylum, nor while confined in public prison, nor while engaged in the navigation of the waters of this state or of the United States, or of the high seas.
RCW 29A.08.230
Oath of applicant.
For all voter registrations, the registrant shall sign the following oath:
"I declare that the facts on this voter registration form are true. I am a citizen of the United States, I am not presently denied my civil rights as a result of being convicted of a felony, I will have lived in Washington at this address for thirty days immediately before the next election at which I vote, and I will be at least eighteen years old when I vote."
Who in the SoS office told you that you can vote here forever after you move out of state? That's true only if you are a military or service voter or if you maintain your residence here.
Posted by: BJ Gadfly on August 10, 2005 07:44 AMThe records show that "Ronald C" and a "CAROLANNE" Sims own 3227 Hunter Blvd South, Seattle, WA 98144 (Parcel #570000288508). This house is on the east side of Hunter Blvd South and is the site of an anti-CAO protest earlier this year. (Lots of media coverage, including two tv crews, and concluded with laying a "wreath" of invasive species plants on the porch, at Ron's doorstep.) They also own the vacant lot directly to the east (parcel #570000284002), which fronts on the west side of 37th Avenue South, the street to the east of Hunter Blvd South. So, they have a big back yard that runs over to the next street. Ownership goes at least as far back as March 27, 1989, when a $0 sale price transfer occurred from Ronald C Sims to Ronald C and "CAROLANNE" Sims.
While the property records indicate CAROLANNE'S last name as Sims, I see from Stefan's suggested look-up of the voter rolls that there is no "CAROLANNE" Sims listed with the other household members at "322o" Hunter Blvd S. However, there is a "Carol A Topacio". I am guessing that's the same person. I've often heard that Ron Sims' wife is Phillipino. Topacio is a common Phillipine last name.
Query: why is it, and is it significant, that "CAROLANNE" Sims is the name in the real estate records, but is apparently in the voter rolls as Carol A Topacio?
By the way, the house is badly in need of a paint job and replacement of missing, fallen away, or deteriorated shingles. Paint on the front porch steps and the west and south sides is peeling very badly, consistent with not having been painted in at least 5 years. This was evident on the occasion of the anti-CAO protest early this year.
For someone making $165,000 a year, and head of a county bigger in population than 13 states, it makes a poor impression that even the front steps are worn and need paint. And it sets a bad example, as I noted to the tv crews filming the anti-CAO event, that the same King County Executive who tells people what they can do with their rural land, doesn't even take proper care of his own house.
Posted by: Armen Yousoufian on August 10, 2005 08:40 AMYou pose legitimate questions that are easily answered, but only at the risk of being called a racist or a bigot by "liberals."
You can take the man out of a culture but you cannot take the culture out of a man. Sims treats the charge of King County "Executive," with the same care that he treats everything else surrounding him. If you have ever tried to respectfully engage him in conversation, you understand what I mean.
It is amusingly ironic to observe such narrow simplicity occupying such an expansively demanding post until you behold Sims’ work product in the light of his defense of it . . . then it becomes easy to comprehend. He behaves as if circle shuffling to the left within a foots-breadth while uttering inanities is something more than a sign of utter futility. NEVERTHELESS, give pause to the FACT that there are MANY in King County who would vote for this paragon of virtue.
Liberalism, it's both a mental disorder, and a decisive political advantage amongst morons.
Thanks for the comments.
Most Washington State career Republicans are RINO's who, like our Sec of State, try not to make waves and try to hire folks so they fill out their state pensions.
Until there is a public outrage fueled by some local newspaper investigative reporter, any prosecutions will never occur.
When one looks at the way Texas prosecutors have gone after Tom DeLay, Florida prosecutors have gone after Rush Limbaugh, etc., if Ron Sims were a Republican mayor the MSM would be calling for his resignation. Just look over in Spokane.
The politics of the situation is such that many will just look the other way. That is wrong and I would like to believe that the King County Republican prosecutor would do something, but he seems to be a "don't make waves" kind of career polician.
The best that will come out of this is that it will help defeat Ron Sims in this fall's election. Who knows, it may be the final straw that causes him to withdraw from the re-election race. Those could be pretty good outcomes, all things considered.
If you look at the doctor on the east coast who Dean Logan thinks should be a King County Voter, the Judge whose residence is the County Admin Building or the Courthouse and nobody seems to care, then nobody is likely to blush about Ron's nephew. It is wrong, it is a shame, it is against the laws, and those in power just don't seem to care. They just mumble "count every vote."
Please keep up the good research work as this is contributing to good outcomes and it is "radicalizing" and "mobilizing" the Republican base in this state.
Thank you for your public service.
Posted by: Bob on August 10, 2005 09:56 AMInquiring minds want to know what is on the envelope, go Stefan! Do ya think Mailings office would haves the guts to prosecute?
Posted by: dl on August 10, 2005 10:06 AMArmen & others: this is amazing---again, Ron gives the preaching and "home training" lecture to all of us common folk, yet his own affairs are badly in need of an "integrity housecleaning."
...and this is a "leader?!" hmmm...will this ever hit the papers? nahhh....
Posted by: Jimmie-howya-doin on August 10, 2005 10:26 AMall of these interesting tidbits would be scattered around, never linked, and the public--(the unwitting victim again)--none the wiser; 3 cheers for Stefan & COmpany!
Sims and others freely chose their lives, chose their actions and freely conducted their lives accordingly--no hiding from the results of their choices NOW with lame 'home training' avoidance responses when they are called on their OWN actions...feet to the fire!
Posted by: Jimmie-howya-doin on August 10, 2005 10:37 AMYou are being ro hard on Donald. Everyone ought to be able to vote for their favorite relative, even if they live out of state. It's just good home training to take care of one's family.
Posted by: Jeff B. on August 10, 2005 11:03 AMMaybe Don Sims was on a boat when he voted?
"...while kept at public expense at any poor-house or other asylum"
Maybe in an asylum?
"...while confined in public prison"
Perhaps in jail?
I am willing to bet that none of the triple digit homeless registered there live there.
Interesting enough is that Scott Morrow of SHARE is registered to vote there despite testifying under oath at the City of Kirkland that he lived on Martin Luther King Blvd.
Posted by: Coz on August 11, 2005 12:27 AMWould certainly keep their office busy.
Posted by: Maui Bound on August 14, 2005 11:21 AM