July 26, 2006
Ron Sims reacts badly to proposal for elected auditor
King County Executive Ron Sims is not happy that a majority of the County Council now supports a ballot measure that would make the county's election chief an elected official. Sims' press release -- "Executive Sims reaction to proposal for an elected elections auditor" -- comes across as the temper tantrum of a little boy who's been told he has to share his toys:
"The proposal to put an elected auditor to a vote is full of irony, hypocrisy and inconsistency when you look at past statements, actions and inactions of councilmembers. I believe this is politically motivated to create doubt about an elections system that has made a remarkable turn around since the 2004 elections.
Whatever. Bear in mind that the Councilmembers did not decide that the auditor shall be an elected official, all they agreed to do is to allow the citizens to decide whether we want our auditor to continue to be appointed by the Executive, or whether we want that official to be elected. Sims still has the opportunity to make the case to the public that the auditor should continue to be appointed by Sims. And should he lose that battle, he would still have the opportunity to campaign for his favored candidate for the position.
The tone of Sims' statement makes clear that he doesn't even want the voters to have a say in the matter. Draw your own conclusions.
Although Sims' surrogates are insisting this is some sort of Republican plot, Sims' own elections task force recommended an elected auditor, as did the Citizens' Election Oversight Committee. And here is what then Democratic State Chairman Paul Berendt said last year:
At a news conference in Seattle, Berendt also suggested that King County's Elections Office could be best reformed by an elected county auditor to supervise elections. The King County elections director is appointed by the county executive.
"The judge talked about accountability, and being an elected county auditor provides accountability," Berendt said.
Yes, it does.
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at July 26, 2006
05:18 PM | Email This
1. Democratic politicians behaving badly over elections. . .does this surprise you?
2. What did you expect? Sims has alot to loose on this...a big chunk of his power base. Not to mention manipulating local and statewide elections. Promises of open and transparent elections will fall by the wayside, Sims will fight this one to the bitter end. The campaign could be interesting...
3. Look, we've made Sims what he is. We've allowed him to get away with years of lies, deception, manipulation and poltiically motivated actions and leadership. Should we be surprised that when even the County Council believes he's out of line he is surprised?
With Ron Sims, it's always someone else that is to blame. Someone should buy him a mirror if he wants to see what's really gone wrong with King County.
4. I think I'll take my lead from the slimes editors and say that Tax to da Max needs to be
eradicated (but in the nicest possible way ;'}
Who was the idiot who let him in, anyway?!
5. ron sims has great clout with democratic leaders .in controlling the counting of ballots in the states largest county.he can and allready has delivered an election they did not win. Im sure the Ds feel they can count on him in the future
6. Ron Sims has great clout with democratic leaders by controlling the office that counts ballots in the states largest county. He can and already has delivered an election they did not win. I'm sure the D's feel they can count on him in the future.
7. So he is upset that he may no longer end up having his pick to run an office that has time and time again shown its ineffectiveness. Too bad. With an elected auditor maybe KCE can finally have some real leadership and accountability. I am surprised that this has not happened sooner seeing that the other 38 counties of this state has an elected auditor. Perhaps Dean Logan heard that this was coming and new he better take a job somewhere else, before he actually had to run a campaign for his job.
8. It's all just fluff. King County would only elect a lap dog like Sam Reed anyway. We need a federal investigation into the last election with criminal charges and hard jail time. I believe that's the only thing that will clean up King County Elections.
9. It's all just fluff. King County would only elect a lap dog like Sam Reed anyway. We need a federal investigation into the last election with criminal charges and hard jail time. I believe that's the only thing that will clean up King County Elections.
10. Why do I think in KC that King Ron ask one of his cronies to run, will support that candidate, and the sheeple will vote that candidate in?
11. Sims behaved badly there - big surprise... and also behaved badly after he found out that the State Supreme Court narrowly rejected gay marriage. Guess he was hoping to be a polygamist and also getting married to his gay partner.
As long as Tax to da Max is in office, there will continue to be mass corruption and misappropriation of taxpayer money. Blame yourselves, you know who you are - for reelecting Tax to da Max as the despot dictator of King County.
12. Maybe Sims reacted badly because its a bad idea. Most large counties do not elect their election auditors/directors. A large multifaceted bureaucracy needs expertise, elections do not guarantee that.
Look I get that you guys don't like Ron Sims, or the council Dems (save maybe Ferguson), but remember King County elected them. Do you really think that the county which overwhelming reelects Sims will somehow vote for a person you like for auditor. Instead of a process by which both parties on the council could review and select a qualified individual you are going to get a long process culminating in a public vote, followed by a messy and complex campaign for office in which an inexperienced person will get elected. Generally speaking experts in particular fields don't run for office, politicians do. I think the last thing our elections needs is a politician running it.
Somehow that process does not bring to mind a picture of quality and efficient elections.
13. One problem with that Giffy, I dont believe that Dean Logan was qualified for the job in any way shape or form. Of course we realize that the elected official would more than likely be Democrat, but at least the people could decide on a democrat that at least HAS the qualifications to run a major elections department.
14. "The proposal to put an elected auditor to a vote is full of irony, hypocrisy and inconsistency when you look at past statements, actions and inactions of councilmembers. I believe this is politically motivated to create doubt about an elections system that has made a remarkable turn around since the 2004 elections."
STOP THE PRESSES - Ron finally agrees there were problems with the 2004 elections but I think he is out in far left field thinking that there has been a turn around. Actually in this case, Ron is so far out that is outside the fence and is delusional thinking that he is still in the game.
15. "A large multifaceted bureaucracy needs expertise..."
And look what we got with deanron. A complete scoundrel accountable to no one except his master.
"...I don't believe that Dean Logan was qualified for the job in any way shape or form."
I have to take exception to that, TrueSoldier. I believe that deanron was "qualified" at least to the extent that it could get him elected (if this were an electable position).
The problem with deanron was that he was a POS that had no scruples, no ethics, and no shame. And he worked for a man who doesn't, either. Now, that's not necessarily news in the government business, but when we get a rotten apple like him, it is imperative that we have recourse. With an elected official we might have some sort of recourse.
No wonder Tax to Da Max doesn't want this change!
16. Now that he's lost his absentee vote manufacturer Dean Logan, old Ronny is a bit testy. It's going to be hard for Sims to deliver King County to his statewide Democrat pals if there is more accountability and the possibility of someone elected whom he did not pick by hand.
17. I soiled my PC by going over to the Horseassholes site and reading their comments. The cognitive dissonace by Goldy boggles the mind.
18. Thanks for blowing the BS horn on Sims.
Oh, btw Mr. Sims, a majority of people in this state STILL don't believe the problems of '04 have been fixed.
19. Steve_dog,
You better run a virus scan, malware scan, adware scan, etc. Always a good idea after visiting a moonbat site.
20. Is anybody concerned about the
Re-election of an elections auditor? Who ensures fairness, or at least an open and honest election when the person repsonsible for accurately counting the votes has a huge personal interest in the outcome of the election. What about trusting the staff of an elected auditor? If they really like their boss or are appointees, what's to stop workers in the elections office from tainting the election to keep their jobs.
I know it's not a much different scenario than what we've just gone through, but no matter what you do to put a wall between an elected auditor and his own re-election, it just won't smell right.
21. So Ron--should we elect someone with a high "HTI?" (home training index); officials sell the 'expert' and 'delegation' side of appointed (crony) officials, bypassing the fact that that's the last handle taxpayers have to flush the loo;
22. This seems to be a common theme as of late. If there is a problem with government having it voted on will somehow make it better. Whether its taxes, elections management, transportation, or any other perceived problem. For conservatives, that is awfully unconservative. Our system was not created on the idea that people should vote for every thing government does, or even anything government does. Instead we elect leaders who will make those decisions.
There are two big problems with using elections as substantive policy. Fist the only choice is up or down, there is no ability for negotiation and redrafting that is the hallmark of good government. Second individual citizens do not have the time, or often the ability to understand many of the complex issues before them. Instead they vote based on a minimal surface level understanding of issues. Lets raise pay for teachers, but lets also cut the property taxes tat pay for them.
If you want better government focus on electing better leaders. Focusing on getting a vote on a few issues here or there is not going to make that much difference. Having qualified and competent people (of both parties) will.
23. RE:TrueSoldier
The people thought Ron Sims qualified to run a major county, why do you trust their ability to vote for an elections director you like.
To be clear I personally agree with the people on their choice of Sims.
24. The King County Journal had an excellent editorial this morning.
25. Little Ronnie is upset because he had his next lab doggie lined up and now this screws up those plans. Awwwwww. He's had plenty of time to make real progress and has chosen not to. In fact he was trying to cement his hold on controlling the vote by forcing early adoption of all mail voting (I'm a poll voter) despite the strong opposition across party lines. The man has no credibility except with the lemmings who blindly follow him because of the "D" after his name.
26. Giffy,
Yes, it is true that our republic is based on electing good leaders and letting them lead, and that is exactly what we are talking about here: Electing a good leader to be the auditor for King County.
If you trust Ron Sims implicitly then I can understand why you do not feel it is necessary to have an elected auditor. For the rest of us it makes sense...
27. "Maybe Sims reacted badly because its a bad idea. Most large counties do not elect their election auditors/directors. A large multifaceted bureaucracy needs expertise, elections do not guarantee that."
Giffy seems to be advocating electing only a single, overall leader and then letting that leader make all the other staffing decisions for the large multifaceted bureaucracy.
In any county, what's more complex than the total bureaucracy of the county? Using your argument why should a county executive be elected and not an elections chief?
In the State of Washington, all large counties - except for one - elect their election auditors/directors. What makes Ron Sims more expert at appointing the head of elections than the electorate?
At least two task forces created by Ron Sims to look into improvements in KC elections has recommended that the head of elections be an elected position, yet Ron refuses to acknowledge this. Why?
I hope the council brings this to a vote soon and that it passes.
28. SourtherRoots,
You beat me to the punch.
If an elections director is elected, we get to see their credentials up front before we cast our vote. We will never see the credentials of an appointed director until that person takes office.
29. Ronnie now has statewide influence and control. Being able to deliver the goods when needed is worth a lot of $$ if not prestige. I guess I'd defend that turf too.
30. A Strategic Vision poll conducted July 21 -23 (likely voters) was just released:
11. Are you confident that Washington has overcome the problems that hindered the 2004 Election and that there will be no problems with the 2006 Election?
Yes 16%
No 66%
Undecided 18%
Ronnie better get hip.
31. Why hasn't anyone been addressing the issue's of our property rights being taken away to the extent of having no rights at all on one's own residence. Living in s.e. king county has been a living nightmare for my family for the past five years. The constant threats, harassment by code enforcers, along with unanounced trespassing visits by these officers have made living in K.C.a regretable experience. Complying with these officials doesn't stop them from continuing to make threats to the very people that their paychecks come from, the property taxpayers. Ron Sims simply does not want home owner's in s.e.king county to have any peace while trying to raise their families. unless of course you are rich enough to build a new home up here in the foothills of king county. Who the hell is passing all of theses new codes that target us homeowners who have lived up here for several years?
32. Ron Sims is incompetent, but on this issue he happens to be right. Why is this a good idea? What has electing county-wide politicians done for King County lately? Shouldn't the elections supervisor be a non-politicized government manager with the skills and qualificiations to do the job? Why are we confident that an election will put the right person in the right job? I think instead, Republicans should put an initiative on the ballot that makes the executive an appointed position. The problem is who is doing the appointing, not that the elections supervisor is appointed.
33. Mathew . . . where have you been the last few decades? This is not new news but: Appointments are always a political payoff. That's the way the stinking system works.
The couple if times I've been around Dean I thought he was a pretty smart guy and he came here highly regarded. But the way the election(s) and it's aftermath(s) was handled he was either incompetent, highly partisan or following somebody else's orders. Care to take a guess which? Sometimes you are so busy following orders that you don't have time to take care of your business.
I'm for anything BUT the status quo and the status quo is an appointed marionette. We need the autonomy and accountability of an elected official.
Also, the position could be designated "non-partisan" . . . like judges.
34. Jiggy,
Read my comments again. I agree. The problem is Ron Sims. If the Executive were a competent government manager we would not have this problem. And I disagree that all appointments are political. Some very good City Managers are appointed by city councils all over Western Washington.