Sound Politics: And because it's the only way King County will have any elections director

April 05, 2007

And because it's the only way King County will have any elections director

Many people support I-25, the King County initiative to make the Elections Director a separately elected non-partisan office, because they're fed up with Ron Sims and the lying bastards who currently run the elections office.

Even if you don't agree that Sims and his people are lying bastards, you should still support I-25. Because that's the only way that King County Elections will be able to recruit top-level managers. Sims' elections office is a national laughing stock. No sane and competent elections administrator will take a leadership position in King County if it means reporting to Sims.

Recall the timeline. Dean Logan resigned last June. Sims announced he found a replacement in August, but the candidate backed out (I spoke with him, he was never seriously interested). On January 29 interim Elections Director Jim Buck (who is itching to move on) told the Council that "Sims could recommend a hire within a month or so". 66 days later, still no hire in sight.

The Superintendent of Elections position has been vacant for nearly two years, since Bill Huennekens was demoted in June 2005.

Whether you love Ron Sims, or not so much, it's in every rational person's interest to remove the elections office from Sims purview. Let's just get this done and move on already. It's up to you and you alone to stop the festering quagmire at King County elections. Donate to the campaign for a separately elected non-partisan elections director now.

Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at April 05, 2007 04:49 PM | Email This

Comments

1. Oh I agree Stefan!

Posted by: dcat on April 5, 2007 06:23 PM

2. Where is the petition fro I-25 available ? I am ready to sign and circulate it to others.

Posted by: KS on April 5, 2007 06:57 PM

3. Not to worry. I-25 will make the ballot and pass overwhelmingly. Toby Nixon will step in and all will be well then.....right?????? What could go wrong with this plan???? Toby will put an immediate halt to all mail vote, Dino wins and all is well.right????

Posted by: Rocketdog on April 5, 2007 07:17 PM

4. This is a BS initiative because theres no way this office will be non-partisan despite it's claim. While I support the idea behind the amendment I fail to see it actually changing anything. In politics there's no such thing as non-partisan, it's the nature of the beast.

Posted by: Cato on April 6, 2007 11:37 AM

5. We have to be honest here. If King Co. voters keep electing liberals it will be a liberal elected to the office and we will have the same situation over & over again. We need a way to see that election officials are actually punished for non-feasance when they are caught in a voter fraud issue. I signed the petition Wednesday and picked up an extra copy for friends to sign but I have no illusions about this changing anything in King Co.

Posted by: Leatherneck on April 6, 2007 12:05 PM

6. The shame of it all is that Ron Sims did not select Dean Logan for any partisan reasons. Dean had been the State Elections Division Director working directly for Sam Reed, a Republican. Prior to that, he had headed the Certification and Training Section of the State Elections Division as well has having served several positions in Kitsap county government.

Although appointed by Sims, Logan was well aware that under state law, as the "county auditor" he answered primarily to Reed, the senior elections officer of the state. What happened? I can only speculate, but it wasn't because Logan was a "Democrat" or because he didn't have the qualifications. He simply blew it somehow.

The position has become such a hot spot that it will be difficult to even find willing candidates to run for the office if the initiative gets approved and favorably voted upon.

Posted by: Bob B. on April 6, 2007 01:29 PM