User:The-Traveller-in-Tacoma/CHARTER-2008/1

Charter Amendment No. 1

logo Pierce county government
Political Campaign
"Revising procedures for appointed citizens to Boards and Commissions"
Pierce county, Washington
General Election, 2009

Charter_Amendment_One_(Pierce_County,_2008)

Charter Amendment No. 1 was a 2008 ballot measure in Pierce County, Washington. The resolution introducing this ballot measure passed the Pierce County Council by a 7-0 vote on July 22nd. Unlike previous years, this was the only amendment on the ballot in November 2008. Amendment 1 would clarify language regarding appointments by the Executive & Council to boards and commissions.

It passed with 63.22%

Explanatory Statement: The Pierce County Council has passed Ordinance No. 2008-55s, proposing an amendment to the Pierce County Charter concerning appointment and confirmations of members to Boards and Commissions. If passed, it would require: the Executive must appoint from a list of three candidates supplied by the Councilmember filling district-specific appointments only if the list of three names has been supplied within thirty days of the vacancy to be filled; the Executive must transmit appointments to the Council within sixty days of a vacancy; and, the Council would have the authority to appoint and confirm members to boards and commissions when filling vacancies of ninety days or more.

Background

Pierce County has had a charter form of government since 1980. This allows the people a level of discretion in structuring their local government.

In 2005, a 21-member Charter Review Commission was elected by the voters. It comprised three citizens from each of the seven council districts.

In 2006, voters approved a number of charter amendments recommended by the Charter Review Commission.<ref>"Pierce county adopts Instant Runoff Voting". Tacoma News Tribune. Retrieved 2009-108-10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help) It affected the offices of Councilmember, Sheriff, Assessor-Treasurer, Auditor, and Executive.

A year later, in 2007, voters approved seven of nine measures on the ballot.<ref>"Pierce county adopts more charter amendments". Elections Division. Retrieved 2009-08-10. 2008

Supporting arguments

[from the voters' pamphlet: "Most of the appointments by the council and the executive are patronage choices.

  Because there are only seven members of the Pierce County 

Council, they generally rely upon the advice of people (and professionals) that they personally know. This limits the fi eld to a small number of people. And then, because there aren’t any Independents elected in either the executive or legislative branches of government, partisan infl uences and considerations come into play.

  The size of the council has not changed for more than twenty-fi ve 

years; to account for population. It is diffi cult to represent proportionally political minority groups when the council is so small and the members are elected by majority vote.

  This measure is a small step in the right direction. More charter 

amendments are needed to have better representation on the council and the boards and the commissions. The use of ranked-choice voting for executive helps. "

Opposing arguments

NONE SUBMITTED.

External Links

• Life in Pierce county
• Resource for information on 2008 ballot measures.

Category:Washington_political_action_committees Category:Political_campaigns Category:Pierce_County,_Washington

Internal Links

PROPOSED---http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierce_county_charter_amendments,_2008 --#REDIRECT Charter Amendment One (Pierce County, 2008) Washington_State_local_elections,_2008 CHARTER AMENDMENT ONE (2008) IN PIERCE COUNTY

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  as of September 2009