Sound Politics: It's in the P-I

November 04, 2005

It's in the P-I

Today's P-I reports on the flood of campaign contributions in the County Executive race -- "If dollars were votes, Sims would win big"

The article's implication is that Sims is getting contributions from developers because he is somehow pro-business. But the inflow of cash into his coffers might have more to do with the simple fact that the Sims administration currently controls the award of development permits. It would have been nice if the P-I had looked into the allegations that contributions were being coerced.

Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at November 04, 2005 11:57 AM | Email This

Comments

1. Slightly Off-Topic: Has Dean Logan released the results of next week's election yet?

Posted by: john425 on November 4, 2005 12:09 PM

2. I about fell off my chair! "Sims' ability as a liberal democrat to stay on good terms with (developers) is a key to his fundraising success".

THIS is their response to the charges that Sims is strong-arming permit-seekers for donations? Talk about a major white-wash. The PI is hopeless.

Posted by: Realist on November 4, 2005 12:17 PM

3. john425: LOL!! Why no, because the other 38 counties haven't released THEIR results yet! (snort snort)

Posted by: Realist on November 4, 2005 12:21 PM

4. Just the headline alone screams out, Sims must be the better candidate because of all the dollars he's receiving. This is what serves as news in the PU. No investigation into greasing palms for permits.

No need to dig any deeper than, "hey big developer, why did you contribute so much to the Sims campaign?" "Because we think he's just peachy!" Okay, we'll print that.

Do these developers ever stop to think, maybe Irons can streamline the permitting process through a more streamlined KC. Then they won't have to put in their bribe money. Or perhaps they realize that Sims/Logan have already determined the election outcome and they fear being punished by King Sims.

Posted by: Jeffro on November 4, 2005 12:26 PM

5. If lies were votes, Sims would win big too.

Posted by: Jeff B. on November 4, 2005 12:34 PM

6. If having your head up your a$$ were votes, Sims would win.

Posted by: Jeffro on November 4, 2005 12:39 PM

7. I forgot that the PI was saying that about Bush too. Oh sorry that's different. (I don't how the logic is different, but it must be some how. Hey! Howard D, pass the Kool-Aid)

Posted by: fred on November 4, 2005 12:52 PM

8. don't worry, me and my fellow King County election workers are hard on the job to make sure that every vote gets counted, no matter what!

Posted by: doug on November 4, 2005 12:53 PM

9. You forgot that developers like the fact that they can use the Sims machine to manipulate traffic data too in order to avoid impact fees. All projects include permit fee, bribe to Sims machine, bribe to Sims campaign. It's just the cost of doing business in KC.

I'm curious to see if the other counties wait until the last legal moment to release results...not that anything corrupt is going on in KC (wink, wink)

Posted by: Andy on November 4, 2005 01:19 PM

10. NOW CHILDREN CAN YOU SAY JESSIE-CRATE

Posted by: TACOMA PHLASH on November 4, 2005 01:24 PM

11. Another revelation! The developers that contribute the most to the Sims campaign get first dibs on developing all of the confiscated CAO land. Thar's free land in them there hills!!!

Posted by: Jeffro on November 4, 2005 01:39 PM

12. "from developers because he is somehow pro-business. But the inflow of cash into his coffers might have more to do with the simple fact that the Sims administration currently controls the award of development permits"

That's interesting... A little research comes up with this...

http://www.metrokc.gov/ddes/lusd/title20.htm#T1

TYPE 1

Decision by Director (I'm guessing staff at DDES), no admininstrative appeal.

Building; clearing and grading; boundary line adjustment; right of way use; road variance except those rendered in conjunction with a short plat decision**; variance from the requirements of Chapter 9.04 K.C.C.; shoreline exemption

TYPE 2

Decision by Director appealable to Hearing Examiner, no further administrative appeal
Short plat; road variance decisions rendered in conjunction with a short plat decision; zoning variance; conditional use permit; temporary use; shoreline substantial development permit; procedural and substantive SEPA decision; site development permit; approval of residential density incentives or transfer of development credits; reuse of public schools; reasonable use exceptions under K.C.C. 21A.24.070B; preliminary determinations under Section 10B; sensitive areas exceptions and decisions to require studies or to approve, condition or deny a development proposal based on the requirements of Chapter 21A.24 K.C.C., extractive operations pursuant to K.C.C. 21A.22.050; binding site plan.

TYPE 3

Recommendation by Director, hearing and decision by Hearing Examiner, appealable to County Council on the record

Preliminary plat, plat alterations; preliminary plat revisions

TYPE 4***

Recommendation by Director, hearing and recommendation by Hearing Examiner decision by County Council On the record

Zone reclassifications; shoreline environment redesignation; urban planned development; special use; amendment or deletion of P suffix conditions; plat vacations

Note that appeals on what the County is calling a Type 2 permit, and Type 3 and 4 permits, appear to be 'awarded' by the County's Hearing Examiner, who looks to be a County Council (your King County elected officials) employee.

http://www.metrokc.gov/mkcc/hearingexaminer/index.htm

"The King County Hearing Examiner conducts quasi-judicial hearings on land use applications and on appeals of County administrative orders and decisions, makes recommendations to the Metropolitan King County Council and issues decisions on the matters heard."

Sounds as though, except for minor permit types, the Examiner and the Councilmembers you guys in King County are electing are the ones doing the 'awarding'.

Posted by: TF on November 4, 2005 01:42 PM

13. Could this be hush up $?! (Just wondering).

Posted by: Laurie on November 4, 2005 01:49 PM

14. Yes, it would have been nice if the P-I had looked into the allegations that contributions were being coerced. It would be nice if the P-I were a real newspaper, too.

Posted by: jsa on November 4, 2005 05:40 PM

15. So that's what's going on. We have connections in the construction business, and none of the regular developers we know have been getting their permits this year. Then finally a month or so ago everything started shaking loose, and contractors are getting permits and starting the projects they were hoping to start last spring and summer. That must be the secret to getting permits...campaign contributions.

Hang around SP long enough, and everything will eventually make sense!!

Posted by: dl on November 4, 2005 10:11 PM

16. My God!

Can you imagine the size of a *contribution* Southwest Airlines was prepared to make Ron Sim's campaign for Boeing Field???

No wonder Sims was trying so hard to get that deal approved! I wonder if his total contributions just took a nose dive since the deal was scrapped?

Posted by: Deborah on November 4, 2005 10:24 PM