Seattle Times: "As primary nears, county still without new elections director"
Sims says the debate over an elected auditor has made it difficult to hire a new director, even though he has narrowed his choice to one candidate, whose name he has not released.The Republicans on the County Council don't even know who the candidate is. The only thing we know is that Deanron2 won't take the job if an elected auditor proposal is on the ballot. Here are some things for Deanron2 to consider:
Someone that truly believed in open, transparent elections - regardless of the party in power.
Someone that wanted every LEGAL voter to be able to cast a vote and have it counted.
Someone that wanted to make a difference in guaranteeing ALL the citizens of fair and impartial elections would jump at the chance.
However, that person will probably not arrive through the current appointment process.
By the way, I received my Snohomish County mail in ballot yesterday. A public service message for SnoCo voters - vote the front and then turn the ballot over to finish voting. Supreme Court races are on the back.
P.S. Since KC has such an impact on statewide elections, I do not feel out of place commenting on the continuing mess KC has brought to elections in this state.
Posted by: SouthernRoots on September 1, 2006 12:15 PMWe have already had the "homeless" vote . Do we also have a salmonella or other epidemic to look forward to too when the big ticket items and Supreme Court Judges come up for a vote this November?
Posted by: pab12 on September 1, 2006 01:05 PM"Ok, there must be a good reason. Why would you agree to delay the vote on an elected auditor until 2009?"
Lambert's response was immediate. I think here heart is in the right place, but I don't think she truly understands how bad a credibility problem Sims and the Democrats have with citizens desperate for the return of honest elections to King County. And to agree to support the Democrat's efforts to delay the vote without being told who the candidate is? And based on a suggestion that Sims has found a "great employee"? Didn't Sims pick Dean Logan that got us into this mess?
Here are Lambert's comments:
"Thanks for knowing that! Yes, indeed there is. The election dept is in a mess and we have had several openings for months. We cannot get anyone to take the jobs. Finally Ron thinks he has found someone that would be a great employee and the condition of this person is that "he" has to be able to have time to turn this place around without the complication of trying to run for office. I think we need help now. So many things are not right and we need someone who is willing to come in and make the hard decisions that need to be made. Bob Ferguson has met with this person. Bob will not tell us if it is a man or woman and anything about the person other than he thinks the person would do a great job. So the person will be announced soon and we will get to interview them. I have a list of questions already ranging from who they will appoint as overseers, to supervision style, to desire for accuracy and on and on. Not the least of which is why would you be willing to take this job????? If we went to an elected auditor at this point, then we would still have the open jobs and all the problems continuing until after the election. I am guessing that the person is from out of state. I like that idea too if it is accurate so that they can come in with a fresh look and not have any preconceived ideas other than just plain getting the job done accurately. So the person will have enough time to get things in place and then the election work can begin. Running for election is no small feat and getting it done with a 80 plus hour job per week to get the elections dept. fixed would be close if not impossible. So it is the art of the possible to get the goal and the overall plan accomplished - an election that works properly and the correct person is certified to hold office.Thanks for asking.
Kathy"
I wasn't going to share this email with anyone. I truly believe that Lambert is the only Republican on the Council truly interested in defending the voters of King County. But she needs some help. If she doesn't understand that working with Sims is literally working with the enemy on this issue, then we really don't have anyone on our side.
Posted by: MJC on September 1, 2006 01:51 PMAll in all, my conversation with Mr. Dunn's office left me feeling like my representative is whimpy, and unwilling to rock the boat to stand up for the rights and wishes of those who voted for him.
I'm underwhelmed...it now becomes clear why people more politically active than myself had strong reservations regarding Mr. Dunn before his election.
Posted by: dl on September 1, 2006 03:43 PMOf coures that would take two + years..........
Then they could forget about the elected auditor again.
Hypocrits
Posted by: GS on September 1, 2006 08:25 PMAnyone who Sims thinks is highly qualified should get the alarm bells ringing. It is just his way of saying he has found someone who will do as he says, fair elections be damned. If Sims were really that concerned about restoring credibility, he would have no problem putting the position up for a vote. As it stands, even if he does railroad this new turkey through, there were still be too many vacancies and too many questions for any normal person to believe the elections department is finally going to head in the right direction.
Posted by: Burdabee on September 1, 2006 08:48 PMIt's as swatter said. If you actually found someone with integrity, they would not work for Ron Sims, and if the did work for Ron, they would soon lose their integrity. Catch-22. I think the position should be elected. From 2006 to 2008 is plenty of time to begin to turn the ship around. If the person is doing a good job, it will show and they can be re-elected, if not, off with their head.
Posted by: Jeff B. on September 1, 2006 10:23 PMI think that it simply doesn't matter. Sycophant or place holding zero, he/she/it amounts to an empty suit. Clearly the principle job qualifications are to simply stay the course, such as it is, and keep Ron out of hot water. Real qualifications, integrity, accomplishment, accountability, and openness are not only not on the radar; there are signs of official disloyalty.
It is time that we united in a call for glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) within King County. It worked in the Soviet Union...
Come on Ron, tear down this wall.
And no, I don't mean the viaduct.