Today's Seattle Times reports on the Elections Director race.
The numbers are certainly in Sherril Huff's favor. The laws, not so much. By her own admission, she wasn't living in King County at the time she filed her candidacy papers, and therefore wasn't legally eligible to run. She shouldn't be legally eligible to take office. The closest precedent is the case of Gary Schoessler, who was elected Mayor of Wenatchee in 1999. His election was subsequently vacated for his failure to meet the residency requirements, and that decision was upheld by the State Supreme Court. The applicable statutes are different in this case, but the underlying principles are somewhat similar.
Chris Clifford filed a lawsuit challenging Huff's eligibility a month ago.
I would refrain from congratulating Huff until the courts rule on Clifford's challenge.
Regardless, chances are slim that any Superior Court judge here, or in Kitsap, Pierce, Snohomish or Thurston counties will rule against Huff. How quickly could this case get to the State Supreme Court? Is their a financial support mechanism in place to fund a challenge all the way to the Supreme Court? And is it even feasible that this could be resolved before Huff would be up for reelection?
These scoundrels are always a step ahead of us. They get paid by us to devote all the attention necessary, including funding all the legal help they need to screw us.
Posted by: Reality on February 4, 2009 10:37 AMHowever, if it is perceived as being biased when brought to trial, a change of venue can be requested to her the case in another county.
Ruth Gibbs
If you jaywalk as a Republican though, prepare for crucifixion.
Thanks. I asked because in some matters under state law, lawsuits can be filed in the county where the issue occurred, or any adjoining county. Sounds like it is different with county-only laws, but that would make sense.
I think I'd shoot for a change of venue, arguing that any King County judge has a conflict of interest given that any election or reelection they are participating in is impacted by the decisions of the Elections Director. Sounds like a very good case for a change of venue. Maybe to Eastern Washington? ;-)
Posted by: Reality on February 4, 2009 11:15 AMIn the world of the fringe-leftist nutter, the world inhabited by the leftwing whack jobs like Pacto, the rules and laws don't apply to them... just to everyone else.
Just out of curiosity, one wonders what ol' Pacto will blather if Clifford wins his suit, and Huff is tossed?
Posted by: Hinton on February 4, 2009 11:36 AMYeah we sure have seen, when it comes to paying taxes. You Dem's are pretty lame. HAHAHA
Posted by: Medic/Vet on February 4, 2009 12:09 PMThe Republicans are pretty good at destroying just about everything...Enron, WTC, Iraq, New Orleans, Galveston, Tx to name just a few. I guess that's what happens when you have a President who appoints unqualified people to run Departments of Govt.
The amount back taxes have hardly equaled the amount of unpaid taxes or the crimes Bernard Kerik was been charged with. I'd say overall you GOP shills are much more corrupt and dishonest.
To believe that Republicans are responsible for your list of failures, you've got to injecting the Kool Aid directly into your veins.
With near total control of government, why are some of you leftists still so angry? Things not going so well? Soon you can come after all of us and put us in camps, then you can start rewriting all the history books to align with your insanity. But until that day, when you spew lies and distortions, you'll be called on it!
Posted by: Reality on February 4, 2009 02:57 PMSay it ain't so!
I hope the check from the DNC clears for you, Sharkansky. Because if anyone has repeatedly asked for this result; was warned repeatedly this might well be the result; and is now reaping the whirlwind -- it's you. And it's hard to believe that you and your Colbert/Limbaugh-like fake "conservatives" didn't want this result all along.
Posted by: Laszlo Toth, Jr. on February 4, 2009 04:12 PMStop the presses.
Another horrifying scandal involving a Democrat.
She may not have been technically eligible to file on the day she filed. O>>> M>>> G>>>.
We are descending into lawlessness and chaos.
yawn...
This is right up there with Obama's forged birth cert. A HUGE scandal.
By the way Shark; How'd that last "contest" ever come out? I never did hear.
Posted by: Unkl Witz on February 4, 2009 06:37 PMAfter all, the liberals here seem to think them unimportant and mere technicalities.
So I have to ask the question- why should we have any residency requirements at all?
The Elections Director requirements were just written last year- why did the Council decide to require residency prior to becoming a candidate?
If you think that Huff should be able to run without being eligible due to residency then why shouldn't we get rid of all residency requirements?
Posted by: Cicero on February 4, 2009 10:03 PM