July 2008 Extra
In this newsletter:
• Vote-by-mail
• Town Hall meeting with Sheriff Rahr
• Charter update
Dear District 3 residents,
I would like to share some new information with you about the work of the King County Council in this extra update message this month.
Vote-by-mail
King County’s plan to switch to all-vote-by-mail elections has been delayed until next year, but preparations for the change are underway. The planning includes providing three regional voting centers with accessible voting machines for those with disabilities to vote in person. That is a reduction in the original plan to provide nine regional voting centers – one in each Council district. The reduction in the number of in-person regional voting centers is an effort to save money in light of King County’s projected $68 million budget shortfall next year.
However, the new plan has no regional voting centers along the I-90 corridor serving the widespread areas of East King County. If you want to vote in person or if you have special accessibility needs, you will need to go to Bellevue City Hall, Union Station in Seattle, or the Elections Division office in Renton. The plan also calls for the Renton office to be open for accessible voting for 20 days at each election, whereas the other Regional Voting Centers in Seattle and Bellevue will be open for only four days at each election. The center that will be open for 20 days is required by law. But these factors concern me because of equity and equal access to the voting process. King County also will provide 37 ballot drop boxes – mailbox-type boxes that I am pleased will be well distributed around the county.
An additional Regional Voting Center would cost $50,000 a year to lease and staff for each election. In contrast, when we go to vote-by-mail completely next year, it will cost King County more than $500,000 for the equipment and staffing needs of counting and verifying mailed ballots. The King County Council is scheduled to vote on this plan at its July 28 meeting, beginning at 1:30 p.m. You can share your thoughts about vote-by-mail and the adequacy of three regional voting centers at council@kingcounty.gov.
Town Hall meeting with Sheriff Rahr
On Thursday, July 31, I will join King County Sheriff Sue Rahr at a public meeting in Redmond Ridge to discuss the ramifications of budget cuts to the Sheriff's Office in 2008 and 2009.
Thursday, July 31
7:00 PM
Rosa Parks Elementary School
2845 NE Cedar Park Crescent
Redmond
So far in 2008, mandated budget cuts have resulted in the loss of 21 positions in the Sheriff's Office, both commissioned and non-commissioned personnel. Executive Sims has said additional cuts will be needed in 2009, which could lead to another reduction of as many as 70 employees of the Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office provides law enforcement for citizens living in unincorporated King County, who will face the brunt of the reductions through loss of services. If approved, the budget reductions will mean that the Sheriff's Office will not be able to investigate certain crimes.
At this meeting, Sheriff Rahr and I will provide an overview of the situation and discuss options to address these issues and the difficult decisions that need to be made. If you have any questions regarding the meeting, please contact my office at 206-296-1003, Major Wills at 206-205-7654, or Elisa Elliott at 206-205-7920 or elisa.elliott@kingcounty.gov.
Charter Update
At its July 28 meeting, the Council will consider placing amendments to the King County Charter on the November General Election ballot. One amendment would allow the charter to be amended by citizen initiative, but would double the number of signatures required for other initiatives. Another amendment, which I am sponsoring, would grant collective bargaining authority for working conditions to the King County Sheriff. Read more about this issue at http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008065653_charterop22.html.
You can hear further discussion of charter amendments in an interview with me on the David Boze radio show, airing at 3 p.m. today, July 23, on KTTH 770 AM.
Sincerely,
Kathy Lambert
District 3
(206) 296-1003