Resolution of the 46th District Democrats
Opposing King County Initiative 22 (I-22)
Adopted April 21st, 2005

WHEREAS King County I-22 will amend the King County Charter by changing the elected offices of the Executive, Council and Assessor from partisan to nonpartisan, and

WHEREAS I-22 is sponsored by the Citizens’ Alliance for Property Rights, and

WHEREAS the citizens of King County constitute a diverse populace with differing needs and priorities for their county government, as well as differing political philosophies, and

WHEREAS local grassroots Party organizations are deeply connected to the neighborhoods they represent and the values of their communities, and

WHEREAS most of the issues, policies and services managed and provided by King County government are addressed directly or indirectly in the Democrat and Republican Party Platforms, including but not limited to: transportation, economic and social justice, environmental protection, growth management, civil rights, labor, law and justice, taxation and human services, and

WHEREAS party affiliation plays a critical role in educating voters by serving as the primary indicator of a candidate’s political philosophy and likely policy agenda, and

WHEREAS eliminating partisan offices for King County will consolidate too much influence and power over the outcome of elections with the media, particularly the daily newspapers, as they would then become an unfiltered source for providing unchecked information about the policy positions and qualifications of candidates and elected officials, and

WHEREAS local grassroots Party organizations, both Dem & Rep, are uniquely positioned to: 1) educate and communicate directly with their neighbors and other members in their community on county governance matters, 2) hold candidates and elected officials accountable for the policies they support and the decisions they make, 3) work directly with their neighbors and other members in their community to ensure transparent, accessible, accountable and effective county government;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the 46th District Democrats that we oppose King County Initiative 22 and encourage all citizens, community organizations, businesses, candidates for partisan office and other groups who are interested in transparent, accessible, accountable and effective county government to publicly oppose I-22.

Submitted by Scott White, Sarajane Siegfriedt, Dean Fournier, Gerry Pollet, Bev Marcus