Drafter
Clerk 09/07/2007
Title
AN ORDINANCE related to elections; expediting transmittal of Initiative 25 to records, elections and licensing services division in order for the initiative to be included in the voters' pamphlet at no incremental cost to the citizens of King County and calling a special election for Initiative 25; and declaring an emergency.
Body
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
1. Section 230.50 of the King County Charter specifies a county initiative process whereby the public may propose a county ordinance by filing with the council the required number of signed petitions from registered county voters.
2. A county initiative proposing an amendment to the King County Charter to create the elective office of county director of elections, Initiative 25, has been proposed.
3. On March 21, 2007, in accordance with Section 230.50 of the King County Charter, the clerk of the council approved as to the form the proposed petitions for Initiative 25.
4. In accordance with K.C.C. 1.16.050, the King County prosecutor's office prepared a ballot title for the proposed initiative measure, which is, "Shall the King County Charter be amended to require that the county director of elections be a nonpartisan elected office?"
5. On June 19, 2007, there were five thousand nine hundred eighty-five petitions filed for Initiative 25 by the initiative's sponsor with the clerk of the council.
6. The clerk of the council reviewed all of the Initiative 25 petitions and, on July 9, 2007, forwarded all unaltered petitions to the King County records, elections and licensing services division director.
7. The King County records, elections and licensing services division on August 22, 2007 has:
a. determined that valid signatures of fifty-two thousand eight hundred seventeen registered voters are required under the charter for the initiative to be deemed proposed;
b. canvassed and verified the petition signatures and counted the names of the legal voters thereon;
c. determined that the number of valid signatures is fifty-two thousand eight hundred seventeen; and
d. concluded that the number of valid signatures is sufficient for the initiative to be deemed proposed,
8. If the King County council does not provide direction to records, elections and licensing services division by September 7, 2007, then Initiative 25 must be included in a separate voters' pamphlet at an additional cost to the citizens of King County of approximately one hundred ten thousand dollars.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Initiative 25 shall be submitted to the qualified voters of King County for their approval and ratification or rejection at a special election held at the general election on November 6, 2007.
SECTION 2. This ordinance is solely to expedite transmittal of Initiative 25 to records, elections and licensing services division so that the initiative can be included in the voters' pamphlet at no incremental cost to the citizens of King County. This ordinance shall not be interpreted as an endorsement of Initiative 25.
SECTION 3. For the reasons set forth in statement subsection 8 of the statement of facts of this ordinance, this ordinance must be enacted no later than September 7, 2007, to avoid the unnecessary expenditure of scarce public resources that would result if a separate voters' pamphlet for Initiative 25 is required. The county council finds as a fact
and declares that an emergency exists and that this ordinance is necessary for support of the county government and its existing public institutions.