Dean Logan has violated the Public Disclosure Act yet again, this time to evade disclosure of documents about Ron Sims' nephew who appears to be illegally registered and voting at Sims' house.
To recap all I know -- Donald Cornell Sims, Jr. is the son of Ron's twin brother Donald of Oakland, CA. Donald Jr. graduated from high school in California and registered to vote at his Uncle Ron's Seattle home in September 1996, one year before enrolling at Eastern Washington University. He graduated from EWU in 2001 and relocated to New York where he earned a graduate degree in 2003 and worked until earlier this year. He has since returned to Washington, where he is on the staff of the EWU Athletics Dept., whose web site informs us that Donald Sims "resides in Spokane". The King County Elections office informed me today that Donald Sims, Jr. is still registered at his Uncle Ron's Seattle residence. Records show that the younger Sims voted four times in 1997 and 1998, and not again until 2004, when he requested and voted a one-time absentee ballot -- while living in New York -- for the September primary when Uncle Ron was running for governor. He is not credited with voting in the November general election.
Now I'm not bringing this up to pick on Donald Sims, Jr. Just because he's the relative of a public figure does not in itself make him a public figure. The only reason I'm writing about him is because he is registered to vote at his uncle's house. And I do think it's a matter of public interest that the elected official who is accountable for elections in this county has been accepting official mail for years for a relative who claims voting residence at his home but obviously doesn't live there.
On the evening of Tuesday, August 9th, I emailed a request to Dean Logan asking for a copy of the absentee ballot envelope returned by Donald Sims for the September 2004 primary. I followed up the next day with this letter by fax and first-class mail (redacted for posting). The five-day statutory deadline for responding to public records requests has come and gone without any response from Dean Logan. You don't suppose it could be to avoid disclosing evidence that might embarrass his boss who's running for re-election, do you?
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at August 18, 2005 03:23 PM | Email ThisLogan is only concerned about honest elections and the general public interest. NOT!
Posted by: BananaLand (aka Iguana) on August 18, 2005 03:59 PMI wonder who first registered Don Sims
I wonder if Don Sims himself has ever voted
I wonder if Don Sims ever voted in New York to send Hilary to DC.
What else am I missing from wondering????
(Lord knows everything else in KC is a nursery rhyme!)
Posted by: Danny on August 18, 2005 05:17 PMWhich is why I just hit the tip jar, and would encourage the rest of yall to do as well.
Posted by: TB on August 18, 2005 05:22 PMYou and your readers really aught to get a life. Your obsession with defaming Sims is getting way tiresome. Perhaps you could branch out a little more and comment on other topics occasionally. Maybe take a look at some broader issues than your perceived corruption in King County.
Just a thought, but there really are some significant national issues out there screaming for an intelligent dialogue from both sides.
Posted by: Unkl Witz on August 18, 2005 05:29 PMOther readers -- don't get suckered by the leftist pinhead trolls whose favorite response to uncomfortable news is to change the subject.
Pull yourself together Shark. You're better than that.
On the other hand, I can see why you don't want to talk about national issues either. Things are not looking to good for the right there either.
Posted by: Unkl Witz on August 18, 2005 05:50 PMYou might have a point about Stefan being fixated on the corruption in King County. Perhaps.
Let me ask you, though, are you familiar with the history of the Municipal League? Here is how they describe their history. I wonder how the Muni League of 1912 would have dealt with Mr. Sims and his machine? I wonder if Mr. Sharkansky would have felt at home in the old Muni League? I wonder why today's Muni League has nothing to say about Ron Sims?
Posted by: Huckleberry on August 18, 2005 06:11 PMInteresting article on the Muni League Huckleberry.
Posted by: cc on August 18, 2005 06:38 PMWie geht es Ihnen? Must really suck to be unable to defend Sims and Co.
Posted by: Danny on August 18, 2005 07:03 PMSeattle Times and P-eye, where are you on this????
Posted by: Michele on August 18, 2005 07:22 PMDon in Yakima,
My sentiments exactly!
When I get saturated with the incredible lawlessness of Ron Sims and the King County Elections department..I try to recap.....to get a clear perspective...
Ron Sims has a twin brother - Donald. Donald has a son - Donald Jr.. Donald Jr. is from California but has registered to vote in King County using his uncle's (Ron Sims) residence address. Donald Jr. Has moved all over the place - Spokane, New York, etc.. over the years as he was registered to vote in King County. He didn't vote for years until his uncle's primary race for Governor in 2004. At that time Donald Jr. was actually living in Spokane - yet voted absentee in King County - using Ron Sims residence address....which is illegal.....
Bottom line:
Ron Sims enabled his nephew to vote illegally in King County during last Septembers primary. Ron Sims - as the county's highest election official - actually did this for the sake of one more vote for himself in his failed bid for the Democrat candidacy in the November Governors race! Ron Sims broke the state election laws for one more vote!
If Ron Sims, in his capacity as King County Executive, is low enough to break the law for one more vote for his primary run.....imagine how easy it must be for him to compromise our elections with fraud. He has no conscience about breaking election laws! Allowing his nephew to vote illegally shows Sims *good home training* is simply a code for a corrupt upbringing.
Ron Sims and his nephew broke the law for the sake of one more vote and should be prosecuted along with the double voters and the felons and those who voted for the dead. Period.
Posted by: Deborah on August 18, 2005 07:40 PM"ad hominem attacks"? I'm not attacking anyone. I merely suggested you "broaden your scope" and take on some new material. The "I hate Ron Sims" campaign is wearing thin, at least to me.
But it's your blog and you da' boss.
Oh, and I don't have any intention of defending Sims. He's certainly up to that himself. I've met him, talked to him, and watched his performance in public office. He's not the satan you make him out to be, nor the archangel you feel I think he is. He is your garden variety politician, neither good, nor evil, just "doin' everything thing he knows how to get re-elected".
I'd put him in the same category as 99.9% of the rest of our elected leaders. Get a new whipping boy. It will improve your readership.
Posted by: Rich Kiker on August 18, 2005 07:55 PM"Just a prediction but I feel a BIG STONE WALL of information requests coming soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Joe at August 10, 2005 02:24 AM"
I would Logan hard to get this information before they get a chance to destroy evidence or start building a cover story.
Posted by: Joe on August 18, 2005 08:28 PMI'm not really into bumper stickers. Last one on my car was for Roy Peck, a Republican candidate for governor in Wyoming, whose campaign I worked on. We lost the primary to Malcom Wallop.
Not really into Yugos either, my impression is they are junk, like the Harley Davidsons of the 1980's.
I do read the Times, but not the P.I. I find it rather middling in political persuasion.
As for the light being shed by these blogs, it's a pretty dim bulb. Mostly fueled by the same sort of emotion that stimulates people to tune into Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity (or Al Franken if you're a leftist, pinhead liberal). I don't see them changing anyone's mind, only providing healthful outlet to the rage they feel for the decidedly unhealthful state of our political system these days.
Folks are angry on both sides. They want change, and they want it at the expense of those fellow citizens they regard as stupid, evil, and the enemy of our "way of life", whatever that is.
I'd like to see a new direction. I'd hoped Shark could help lead the way. What I'm seeing now is just a right-wing Goldstein. Not much value in that.
Posted by: Unkl Witz on August 18, 2005 08:43 PMI as I have pointed out in other threads. Every time you attempt to bring up a national topic on this blog, you have come with out knowledge, facts or anything even remotely resembling the truth.
Every point you have brought up in an attempt to divert attention from Ron "Tax to the Max" Sims. Has been proven wrong with pointers to source documents.
Either defend Sims' actions, without extraneous bogus attacks on national figures, or keep quiet.
Posted by: JCM on August 18, 2005 08:48 PMIf that's not an important story to local and state politics I don't know what is!
Again you use your posts to try to change the subject. Don't post or read if you don't like the direction of the blog!
"Folks are angry on both sides. They want change, and they want it at the expense of those fellow citizens they regard as stupid, evil, and the enemy of our "way of life", whatever that is."
Both sides are angry...how about no sides, but decent law abiding Washingtonians are angry. Also, I don't think that few if any Dems in the KC gov or WA Legistlature are angry....well except about the fact that they are being found out to be crooks or at least people that believe is out right fraud.
And what's up with the last sentence. Are you saying that by wanting to have people re-register and then have to prove who they are to be able to vote is taking advantage of the stupid? Is it also taking advantage of them if they can't read the directions on the ballot and do it incorrectly? If you are to stupid to follow directions then your vote won't be counted. Simple and straightforward. The is more, but it could talk all night.
"There is more, but it could take all night."
Yikes!
‘I'd like to see a new direction. I'd hoped Shark could help lead the way. What I'm seeing now is just a right-wing Goldstein. Not much value in that.’
I would whole-heartedly disagree. I would actually like to see fewer posts on other topics not related to King County elections. I keep coming back to this blog because I want to see all exposed and not see things end up being swept under the carpet and forgotten. What we are witnessing here is people’s feet being held to the fire. Changing topics or the main focus of this blog is to let corruption win. The effect of staying focused is to put all politicians on notice that they may be the next focus of this or a new blog of this type exposing their actions. United we stand, divided we fall. Don’t let trolls or pols divide your focus. David Goldstein’s posts are topically all over the place and his followers get nothing more than an emotional high. They have no focus. They’ll never be a part of any groundbreaking exposures or the bringing about of true reform.
I admire your willingness to brave the vitriolic barbs that often come your way from some of the more ascerbic contributors to this blog. However, you would do yourself a favor if you restricted your comments to points that are worth taking the heat. For instance, your opening salvo claimed that Stephan was wasting time and effort villifying someone you think may not deserve so much attention. You may be right that Ron Simms is basically a decent guy that we might watch football with on a sunday afternoon (or whatever floated ones boat.) However, there has been a lot of stuff coming to light that suggests that he messed up big time in a number of key areas. The fact that the MSM has not called him on it like they would if there were the (R) after his name means someone else must do the digging. The problem is, there IS a stnewalling effort apparently under way. If he is clean, and nothing wrong occured, the evidence should back it up.
But I digress. The point I am making is that Sound Politics, while conservative in bent, and often supporting Rebublican politicians, and platforms is not in the business of slandering or otherwise undermining Democrats just BECAUSE they are democrats. While it is true that some commenters in the comments sections do just that, the main contributors usually have something of substance when they resent a post. They will also criticize rebublicans with whom they feel do not live up the the political ideals that the "contributors" hold. Consequently, they thrust of this site, as I see it, is to expose the problems that it sees. It is the investigative type journalism that USED to be considered the primary role of newspapers. Whether this is on a local level or a national level, someone needs to be insuring that no one in power gets a pass and is allowed to tilt the system in their own favor against the desires of the public or to undermine the system by keeping things hidden from the public.
If Simms has done nothing wrong, the fastest way to shut Sound Politics down is to come clean with the facts. I have never seen Stephan equivocate with the facts and fail to admit a mistake when it is pointed out to him.
If you don't like this dogged pursuit of Simms, I can't help you there. If Simms is clean, it's a simple matter to verify. If he is not, then Stephan has every right, and in some ways a responsibility to call him on it. But, it is not a waste of time to report what one finds that looks suspicious.
Posted by: Eyago on August 18, 2005 10:06 PMAll of a sudden, Henry M. Jackson got elected Attorney General and started firing subpoenas at every one. One day he got Grays Harbor in his site, sent a bunch of process servers down and, lo and behold, everyone who was anyone decided to go fishing on the same day. (It didn't matter, "Scoop" got them all eventually.)
The point is, nobody wanted to talk so they all ran. Basically that is the same thing that's happening with Dean Logan right now; he doesn't want to talk, so he, figuratively, went fishing.
It's a shame that AG McKenna lacks the cojones of Scoop Jackson, but if somebody (Shark) throws enough information against the wall, maybe even McKenna will learn to read.
Posted by: MIMike on August 18, 2005 10:17 PMLogan has enough on Sims to put him in an orange jumpsuit. And Sims needs Logan to "help" him in the upcoming election.
Logan needs Sims because he is too much of a boob to get another job making anywhere near what we pay him out of our taxes.
Posted by: Mr. Grabbit on August 18, 2005 11:33 PMThe R's and D's were playing a football game. With ten minutes left in the game a train came by and blew it's whistle and the R's thought the game was over and left the field. Three plays later the D's scored. They were so proud to win for once with out cheating.
To obtain tuition break you must prove you have lived in the state for more then a year before starting school (WAC 250-18-020)
Using an address where the residents share the same last name and being a registered voter at that address for exactly one year prior to starting would prevent any eyebrows being raised at EWU when applying for in state tuition.
The upside of getting WA state residency status is HUGE. In 1997 at EWU the difference in resident and non resident tuition was roughly $7,000.
So there are many questions that need to be answered to clear up both the issue of voter fraud and the possibility that Sims Jr. erroneously obtaining in state rates with his Uncle's help. First question, what was Don Jr.'s residency status at EWU his freshman year? If he did get resident status the next question; did he reside at Ron Sim's home during that year prior to starting school? If the answer is no then there is certainly cause for concern with both issues!
Whatever the case it sounds like he is no longer a resident of king county or anywhere else in this state so a challenge of his voter registration seems to be in order.
Posted by: Joe on August 19, 2005 12:37 AMYour next action: You attempted to divert that discussion to topics unrelated to elections in Washington.
Your cries of "I just want change - it's Shark's fault I can't have it" ring a bit hollow when viewed a couple of clicks down the page from the above.
Folks are angry? You bet--both sides may honestly be angry in any election, but I'm mainly angry about lax controls and no accountability with my tax spending. That's a simple stweardship and integrity concept--not D nor R or anything else. I respect any party or person who is honest with our tax dollars and cares like it's his/her own money. Taxes are not the issue--proper accounting and prudent spending are the issues.
Angry about 18 years of poor audit reports on the DOT. Angry about 99 routine "emergency" bills. About the plethora of tax increases passed just after elections. About the foot-dragging in cleaning up elections. About illegal aliens getting all kinds of FREE state & local benefits. About the chokehold of the unions on our state schools and industries. ANd mostly--angry about the lousy excuse for election reform--third world countries have more voting security measures than we do;
I know--you will advise me to move, run for office or otherwise, and that is an option for anyone. However, citizens are rightly entitled, as you do, to vent and try to bring about legal changes. Diverting the topic or focus (like the 'move on mentality') does nothing but make one suspicious of the dirverter or his reasons for 'just moving on.'
Posted by: Jimmie-howya-doin on August 19, 2005 07:47 AMShark posts new problem with KCE, along with documentation.
Unkl comments, "GWB is a [ ]."
Posted by: JCM on August 19, 2005 07:54 AMYou've just gotta love the good home training that is given in the Sims family.
Posted by: Mr. Grabbit on August 19, 2005 08:14 AMYou see, you cannot claim your residence status until you live in the state for a year. Furthermore, living in the state as a student for the purpose attending an educational institute does not count. How do I know this? I came to US as a student, and no matther how many years I lived in a particular state, I was never a resident. Further, I worked in the Financial Aide department at the school I was attending, and no one from out of state would ever become resident by simply being a student for a year.
Will someone investigate this embazzlement orchestrated by Ron and Don Sims?
Posted by: C. Oh on August 19, 2005 09:48 AMI paid roughly 8K more a year for my non resident status.
Did Don Jr., who appeared to grow up in California, get resident status here in this state? I think it's important to find out.
Posted by: Joe on August 19, 2005 11:25 AM"GWB is a [ ]." - JCM
Did I say that? When? Where?
Many of the more amusing aspects about posting on this forum are the stereotypes and logical non-sequiturs you folks project onto me, just for offering an adverse position.
Other than where I live and where I used to work, you know nothing about me or my politics. Try parking your attitude for a few moments and re-read some of my posts. You might be surprised at what's really there.
And thanks to Eyago above for a thoughtful and cogent post. I can't really disagree with anything you say. But I do have to marvel at the hypocracy of this crowd who carry torches and pitchforks to Ron Sims doorstep, but look the other way when all the same crimes are committed on a far grander scale at the national level.
Believe me when I say I do understand why you are very anxious to confine this forum to local issues.
Posted by: Unkl Witz on August 19, 2005 12:47 PMWe don't know you, you don't know us. Because we frequent this blog doesn't mean we don't look at others of national interest.
Sandy Berger
National Archives
Jamie Gorelick and 'The Wall'
Able Danger
Janet Reno
Mohammed Atta
Iraqi Foreign Minister
Prague, Czech Republic
Iraqi spy ring busted in Germany in Jan, 2001
9/11 Commission
Jamie Gorelick worked as the top attorney in the Dept of Defense before being hired as second-in-command to Janet Reno. She is probably more responsible for 9/11 than any other official in the U.S. Gov't. Why was she on the 9/11 Commission rather than being a witness?
I'm just as interested as you in the bigger picture. I demand transparency at all levels. We're not getting it from the 9/11 Commission just like we're not getting it from Ron Sims.
But this isn't the appropriate forum for more investigations into how the Clinton Administration dropped the ball in the 1990s, no matter how much you'd like to look into that subject. And discussing 'Air America' taking hundreds of thousands of dollars from disadvantaged kids and Alzheimer's patients is not appropriate here, either. Period.
So please find an outlet for your interest in far grander crimes on the National level. Might I suggest Captain's Quarter's, Michelle Malkin, Polipundit, or Powerline?
Posted by: Larry on August 19, 2005 01:10 PMCheers!
And thanks to Larry, I will watch for your posts railing against waste and fraud on all those other websites as well.
Posted by: Unkl Witz on August 19, 2005 01:17 PMHey "kat"! read my posts... read the replies from your bloggers, and tell me again who attacks whom.
Do you folks even know how to read?!?
If you want me to go away, just tell Sharky to block my posts. Then I'll disappear, like the journalists who don't have the "the cojones" as MMike puts it, to tell what's going on at the national scene.
Posted by: Unkl Witz on August 19, 2005 09:50 PMUkl Witz, Your statement would sound a little condescending if it wasn't for the fact that I went to public schools, and can't read so good.
I'll learn how to read if you learn how to think for yourself without the leftist mindset, and maybe Ron Sims can give you some good home training.
You could surely use it.
My reading skills are fine.
It is just that no one gives a fig about anything you have to say. I'd be the last one to suggest to Shark or anyone else to ban you - you're not worth it, and you are of too much comedic value as a token liberal imbecile....
Posted by: alphabet soup on August 20, 2005 10:26 AM