Sound Politics: Non-partisan offices for King County?

March 30, 2007

Non-partisan offices for King County?

King County Councilman Pete von Reichbauer is introducing a charter amendment to make county elected offices non-partisan. (County Executive, Councilmembers and Assessor would become non-partisan. Prosecuting Attorney is partisan by state law. Sheriff and judges are already non-partisan).

Press release and fact sheet are here.

At this writing, no other Councilmembers have as yet signed on as co-sponsors. It's understandable why von Reichbauer, as a member of the minority Republican caucus, might be tempted to shake things up and break down the partisan barrier. Democrats Greg Nickels and Dwight Pelz introduced similar proposals in the 1990s when they were in the minority on the Council.

King County GOP Chairman Michael Young told me he opposes the proposal. He argues that having two partisan caucuses is good for county government, as it ensures that two sides can be presented on every issue.

Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at March 30, 2007 06:47 PM | Email This

Comments

1. Given Young's complete lack of political acumen, his opposition to this plan must mean it's a good idea... because HE damned sure isn't getting anyone elected.

Posted by: Hinton on March 30, 2007 08:36 PM

2. Partisan politics at the County level really isn't a great idea. The issues aren't Republican or Democrat, usually they are how to deal with growth and infrastructure. Two sides of an issue just isn't enough at the County level to ensure good quality decision making. And with the political parties, they tend to dig into one position or another, each a compromise with major flaws and neither a collaborative attempt to do something that will actually work.

There just isn't enough at the County level that would create identities along our current party lines except for elections issues and that's just because they are already partisan. You can bet if they were non-partisan, the King County Elections Office would have had some major changes backed by most of the politicos.

Posted by: Doug on March 31, 2007 12:11 AM

3. Here's Young's comment: "it ensures that two sides can be presented on every issue."

Want to know whose side is not presented on any issue? Taxpayers. The big problem with both parties is they are more concerned with grabbing taxes than building better a better society for people.

Posted by: neither of 'em is worth a damn on March 31, 2007 05:40 AM

4. Here's Young's comment: "it ensures that two sides can be presented on every issue."

Want to know whose side is not presented on any issue? Taxpayers. The big problem with both parties is they are more concerned with grabbing taxes than building better a better society for people.

Posted by: neither of 'em is worth a damn on March 31, 2007 05:41 AM

5. It is long past time when the office holders of county positions should be non-partisan. Neither party has all the answers & it's time that taxpayers had a more important role in what happens in county government.

I'm tired of the backbiting, the posturing, the give backs to unions, & all the rest of the junk that goes on. It's time to try something else & it might as well be having non-partisan elections & office holders.

Posted by: Clean House on March 31, 2007 09:33 PM

6. I'm with Doug on this one.

Posted by: swatter on April 2, 2007 07:02 AM

7. Partisan politics at every level is a good idea, now that we live in an era where the sweep of federal, state, and local governments extends deeply into our private lives. Government activism at all levels needs to be resisted by conservative and libertarian ideals.

Unfortunately, we live in a political arena where any idiot can get elected simply by having the letter D after their name, and any talented fellow will ensure his defeat by having an R follow his name. The only way that conservative candidates will make inroads into county-wide races is to black out the letters after their names. It will at least cost the Dems more money to educate voters about who their candidates are.

I favor non-partisan seats on the county council.

Posted by: huckleberry on April 3, 2007 10:19 AM