The West Seattle Herald endorses Republican David Irons over Ron Sims, in this editorial, from their Sept. 7 edition.
(The election of) November 2004...was a grim, unfunny story....Then...the absurd proposal of King County Executive Ron Sims that began to demonstrate he had no clue as the depth, seriousness or impact of the problem. Instead at looking at the people in charge, Sims wanted to buy a $23 million building in the Rainier Valley in which to banish his totally dysfunctional elections department.The building would be the "dream" solution, said an aide to Sims. Where do these people live? In a cave?...Fortunately, the County Council quickly acted rationally and killed this idea.
Sims, though, seems to be in another world. He clings to his elections supervisor with stubborn tenacity. Aide Kurt Triplett says he remains unless he screws up the primary in less than two weeks, or the general in November.
...Sims' opponent, Republican candidate David Irons said it correctly when he had this comment last week: "If elected, I will take the steps necessary to rehabilitate the department and restore public trust - steps our current executive is unwilling and unable to take."
Ron Sims, in his handling of the elections snafu, and in some of his other actions, has made it clear is he not in control of the county and needs to find a new line of work. We no longer have any confidence that Ron Sims can do the job we elected him to do. We are strong backers of David Irons for county executive.
Of course, such endorsements will matter even more just before the general election in November. Will other community newspapers in King County, including Seattle, have the guts to weigh in on this race, editorially? Let's encourage them.
Posted by Matt Rosenberg at September 12, 2005 12:47 PM | Email ThisThe single most important statement of David Irons' from this editorial is:
...Sims' opponent, Republican candidate David Irons said it correctly when he had this comment last week: "If elected, I will take the steps necessary to rehabilitate the department and restore public trust - steps our current executive is unwilling and unable to take."
Sims has had his chance to correct the problems in the election office - three years of chances, to be exact.
To fix the election problems, we need change in the very top.
As an admitted Democrat, I am casting my first-ever vote for a Republican (in a contested race) this fall.
I'm voting for David Irons for King County Executive.
Posted by: Observer on September 12, 2005 01:28 PMThis is not just an issue of public trust, but one of public ignorance that anyone would tolerate this. That Sims has a chance of reelection identifies where the problem really is, and it's not Sims and local media.
Posted by: Mike on September 12, 2005 01:43 PMMy prediction still holds:
Sims 80% Irons 60%.
I got a real laugh out of your "predection". That's Seattle election math!
Posted by: Fed UP on September 12, 2005 01:58 PMGary
Posted by: Gary on September 12, 2005 02:28 PMit's a start, but until and unless bozos like Ron and McDermott are ousted, same 'ol same 'ol; interesting to see who will ACTUALLY change their vote based on a paper's endorsement--or now that ANY PAPER would sway voters FROM Ron; how does one accurately measure a voter's changed mind until the final count? (a proper and legal count, I mean!)
i view ANY paper's endorsements as bellybutton lint; a reality, but no commercial usefulness;
Posted by: Jimmie-howya-doin on September 12, 2005 02:33 PM
So, if we choose to be dems to vote for dems in the primary can we go back to being Republicans in the general??
You are saying -subjected to having Ron Sims as KC Executive AGAIN?
Posted by: Amused by liberals on September 12, 2005 03:58 PMI can repent and redeem myself to cover the eternal damnation, just don't condemn me into having to vote DEM in the general election.
Sims better get his resume' updated. He's cooked.
Posted by: Unkl Witz on September 12, 2005 05:25 PMSo you like Sims, huh? Care to share the reason WHY with us??
Posted by: Larry on September 12, 2005 06:10 PMDo forget all the dems feed up with the election fiasco. I just finished talking with a very liberal activist door belling in my neighborhood, he says Sims has to go, to maintain the long term credibility and viability of the party.
If the dems are suicidal Sims will get the nomination, then if the votes are counted accurately and fairly Irons wins narrowly.
That said if things remain the same, which is how things appear. Sims 80% Irons 60%
Anonymous, I have been consider voting dem in the primary. God save my immortal soul. If the rules are followed (I know big if in KCE) the security envelope with your signature is removed and separated from the inner envelope before opening the inner and tabulating the votes, so in theory you don't violate the secret ballot process.
Posted by: JCM on September 12, 2005 07:27 PMJust register to vote as homeless and list your address as a public library or the homeless shelter. (read the perfect vote fraud from june 23, 2005) The dems have made sure that the elections in KC will continue to be a farce.
I agree Ron Sims 80% David Irons 60%
Posted by: hookr23 on September 12, 2005 07:36 PMThese same naifs just don't get it when we count billions of dollars stolen by Halliburton and thousands of humans killed as result of Bushie's little "let's get the empire on" war in Iraq.
Freedom is on the march. Support our troops.
Posted by: Unkl Witz on September 12, 2005 08:12 PMTruth is we need the doctor in to cut out the cancer from the whole top county brass and elections organs. No more tests. No more studies. Just cut. Anything less is just strong meds and a hospice.
Posted by: Jimmie-howya-doin on September 12, 2005 08:18 PMFor one you managed a post without bringing up Iraq then you went and ruined it.
We been over you non-sequitur arguments and so far you have lost each and every point you have brought up.
Drop it, this is local politics.
I posted this over at LGF, this is what you sound like Unkl.
Precious, Precious, that nasty Bushes stole my presidency, nasty Bushes, nasty filthy Bushies.
Nasty filthy Bushies blows up the Two Towers, yess, yess. Nasty Bushies dos it, blows up towers.
Yess, yess blows up towers, detracts attentions from stealing presiouss elections. Yess, Yess steals my precious elections from Algoress, thiefs that nasty Bushies is, yess.
Nasty filthy Bushies, blows up the towers, steals my preciouss elections.
I hates him, I hates him, I hates the nasty Bushies.
In other words obsessive to the point of insanity.
Posted by: JCM on September 12, 2005 08:38 PMObviously you do too. Hey, be happy, because you read here, at least you are more informed than the rest of the unwashed (literally) and liberal Seattle masses that read the P-I and watch King 5.
Mike, the Seattle papers are not in denial; they are in bed with Sims.
Posted by: ERNurse on September 13, 2005 12:27 AMBecause buddy, in spite of how brilliant you may have deluded yourself into thinking that you are, you sure aren't impressing anyone here with your rapier-like wit.
Posted by: ERNurse on September 13, 2005 12:42 AMSleepy press. Apathetic voters. Neither can find their arses with both hands.
Posted by: Jimmie-howya-doin on September 13, 2005 01:31 PMbut what will it take for the apathy? a local disaster? terrorist act? too many sleepy voters; sure--politics is not sexy to some--it wasn't for me when i was younger and full of my own interests not far beyond my nose;
however, as i accumulated 'stuff' from my honest hard work, followed the 'rules' and paid taxes, politics suddenly became ctitical--especially locally--since these people are literally determining your life! now most of us have a lot to lose--witness the Kelo decision in the east; yet our voting participation is rarely ever near 80 or 90+ percent as one would think in a freedom-oriented country;
and (politics) exerts a creeping control over your life--in a school, in a sparsely-attended town meeting or other non-splashy ways;
Posted by: Jimmie-howya-doin on September 14, 2005 10:29 AM