Statement For
The Charter currently does not explicitly allow amendment by citizen initiative. The State Supreme Court crafted a process in a court decision. This proposal improves that process. This proposed amendment, supported by a majority of the Charter Review Commission and County Council, would: 1) explicitly allow the Charter to be amended by citizen initiative; and 2) bring King County closer with the other Washington charter counties by establishing the threshold amount for signatures on citizen initiatives at 20 percent of the number of people voting in the last county executive election, rather than the 10 percent fashioned by the court. Also, the proposal eliminates the current requirement for a separate or “second” election to place charter amendment initiatives on the ballot. The Charter is our county’s Constitution. It should not be amended too easily. The Charter Review Commission developed proposed charter amendments after holding scores of public meetings and discussions on the history, rationale and effect of the charter’s current provisions. This proposal, which evolved from the Commission’s work, enables the charter to be amended when significant numbers of county voters seek a change, but makes the process significantly difficult enough that voters will make amendments sparingly and very thoughtfully.
Rebuttal of Statement Against
The “con” statement attempts to confuse the issue by citing several state initiatives that are not constitutional amendments. The Washington state constitution does not allow for constitutional amendment by citizen initiative.
By allowing for charter amendments, Amendment 7 gives King County voters more power than state law.
Two writers of the “con” statement are paid political consultants whose livelihood depends on keeping initiative signature requirements low. Vote for good government, not for their business profits. STATEMENT PREPARED BY: Allan Munro, Tara Jo Heinecke |
Statement Against
Don’t let politicians and their handpicked cronies on this “independent” commission take away your right to vote. King County’s signature requirement for initiatives is already 20% higher than the state’s – Amendment 7 makes it nearly TRIPLE what our state Constitution requires. The King County Council isn’t just making it tougher – Amendment 7 makes it IMPOSSIBLE for anyone except big money special interest groups to qualify for the ballot. If such a huge number of signatures were required, none of these citizen initiatives would’ve received a public vote: A smaller King County council, voter picked elections officer, nonpartisan council, public disclosure laws, performance audits of government, higher minimum wage, property tax limits, medical use marijuana, sports stadium tax caps, smaller class sizes, property rights, lower car tabs, smoking ban, clean energy, exempting food from sales tax, higher teacher pay. Amendment 7 would prohibit the citizen participation that allowed these issues a public vote.
Since 2003 when the State Supreme Court recognized King County citizens’ right to amend their charter by initiative, only 4 measures have qualified. 4 measures in 6 years? It’s tough enough already. The Constitution gave you your right to vote – don’t let politicians take it away. VOTE NO.
Rebuttal Of Statement For
There’s never been a successful citizen initiative in any county requiring such a huge number of signatures. </b>Our right to initiative can only be exercised if there’s a reasonable chance to qualify for the ballot. Amendment 7 makes it IMPOSSIBLE for anyone except big money special interest groups. Amendment 7 overturns a UNANIMOUS State Supreme Court ruling and nearly TRIPLES the number of signatures our state Constitution requires. It’s tough enough already. REJECT AMENDMENT 7. STATEMENT PREPARED BY: Mike Dunmire, Chris Van Dyk, Tim Eyman |
Ordinance 16221
Proposed No. 2008-0361.2 Sponsors Constantine, Gossett and Phillips
AN ORDINANCE proposing to amend Section 800 of the King County Charter, to establish a process and signature threshold for amendments to the King County Charter by citizen initiative; and submitting the same to the voters of the county for their ratification or rejection at the November 2008 general election.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. There shall be submitted to the voters of King County for their approval and ratification or rejection, at the next general election to be held in this county occurring more than forty-five days after the enactment of this ordinance, an amendment to Section 800 of the King County Charter as set forth herein:
Section 800. Charter Review and Amendments.
800.10. Charter Review and Amendment.
At least every ten years after the adoption of this charter, the county executive shall appoint a citizen commission of not less than fifteen members whose mandate shall be to review the charter and present, or cause to be presented, to the county council a written report recommending those amendments, if any, which should be made to the charter. This citizen commission shall be composed of at least one representative from each of the county council districts. The county council may propose amendments to this charter by enacting an ordinance to submit a proposed amendment to the voters of the county at the next general election occurring more than forty-five days after the enactment of the ordinance. An ordinance proposing an amendment to the charter shall not be subject to the veto power of the county executive. Publication of a proposed amendment and notice of its submission to the voters of the county shall be made in accordance with the state constitution and general law. If the proposed amendment is approved by a majority of the voters voting on the issue, it shall become effective ten days after the results of the election are certified unless a later date is specified in the amendment.
800.20. Charter Amendments by Citizen Initiative.
Citizens of the county may propose an amendment to the charter by filing initiative petitions with the county council bearing a number of signatures of registered voters of the county equal to or greater than twenty percent of the votes cast for the office of county executive at the last preceding election for county executive. The petitions shall contain the full text of the proposed charter amendment. Publication of a proposed amendment and notice of its submission to the voters shall be made in accordance with the state constitution and general law. Submittal to the voters shall occur at the next general election occurring more than one hundred thirty-five days after the petitions are filed. Within ninety days after the petitions are filed, the county council may enact an ordinance to submit a substitute charter amendment concerning the same subject matter on the same ballot with the proposed amendment; and the voters shall first be given the choice of accepting either or rejecting both and shall then be given the choice of accepting one and rejecting the other. If a majority of the voters voting on the first issue is for either, then the version receiving the majority of the votes cast on the second issue shall be deemed approved. If a majority of those voting on the first issue is for rejecting both, then neither version approved regardless of the vote on the second issue. Any amendment that is approved by a majority of the voters voting on the issue becomes effective ten days after the results of the election are certified unless a later date is specified in the amendment.
SECTION 3. The clerk of the council shall certify the proposition to the manager of the elections division, in substantially the following form, with such additions, deletions or modifications as may be required by the prosecuting attorney:
Shall the King County Charter Section 800 be amended to establish a process process and signature threshold for amendments to the King County Charter by citizen initiative?
Ordinance 16221 was introduced on 6/30/2008 and passed as amended by the Metropolitan King County Council on 7/28/2008, by the following vote:
Yes: 9 – Ms. Patterson, Mr. Dunn, Mr. Constantine, Ms. Lambert, Mr. von Reichbauer, Mr. Ferguson, Mr. Gossett, Mr. Phillips and Ms. Hague
No: 0
Excused: 0
KING COUNTY COUNCIL
KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Julia Patterson, Chair (signed)