Call for non-partisan offices going to ballot
June 2, 2008 · Updated 9:33 AM
A proposal to remove political-party affiliations from top elected offices in King County government has qualified to be a ballot measure in this fall’s election.
The county elections department certified enough signatures of registered voters in a petition drive to place Initiative 26 on an upcoming ballot. The measure calls for an amendment of the county charter in order to make the offices of county executive, council and assessor non-partisan.
Joe Fain, chairman of Citizens for Independent Government, a group backing the initiative, submitted signatures from more than 80,000 county residents in early April. After being checked by elections officials, the necessary 52,000 signatures of registered voters in the county were confirmed.
“This is a tremendous victory for voter choice and competent government,” Fain said.
Voter approval of I-26 is still necessary to switch the offices to non-partisan.
The County Council will have until July 1 to consider the proposal.
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