Pierce County’s canvassing board convened this afternoon to sort through 199 ballots in which the voter’s intent was in question or which were otherwise problematic.

It was a lesson in the breathtaking tedium of democracy. But it was also reassuring to know that just about any way you can screw up your ballot has been taken into account in state regulations the board used to determine which ballots should count and which shouldn’t.

The canvassing board has three members: county elections manager Lori Augino (subbing for Auditor Pat McCarthy, who’s on the ballot), Ron Williams of the prosecuting attorney’s office and County Councilman Dick Muri (subbing for council Chairman Terry Lee, who’s locked in a close race for assessor-treasurer).

They sifted through the ballots, applying 82 pages of Secretary of State guidelines to include or exclude votes. They did this ballot by ballot and sometimes race by race on individual ballots.

Some of the problems they saw:

• People who stuffed multiple ranked choice or traditional ballots into a single absentee envelope. Under state law, if two ballots in a single envelope are marked identically, they count as a single ballot. If they don’t match, neither is counted.

• People who left “hesitation marks” by one candidate’s name but fully marked a second candidate. Sometimes, you can tell people started to vote for one candidate and changed their mind. Other times, the “hesitation” mark looks too much like a real vote, so the race is counted as an “overvote” on the ballot. That means your vote doesn’t go to either candidate.

• People who didn’t mark their ballots correctly (by connecting the arrows beside their candidates of choice). Some marked their ballots with checks or circles. If they did it consistently, the board was inclined to count the votes. If not (maybe they used circles for some votes and checks for others), they didn’t.

I confess I didn’t stick around to watch them process all 199 ballots. I left after ballot No. 66 was decided – an hour and 48 minutes into the meeting. But I came away with two impressions:

First, the board seemed inclined to count votes, within the leeway provided by the law.

Second, a close election could come down to the votes of people who can’t follow directions.

That's one of the three requirements the King County Council put on the newly "elective" director of elections.

You don't have to be qualified when you win election to the job, but you have to be certified by the Secretary of State within 2 1/2 years of getting the job.

You also wouldn't be able to hold office in a political party, so I guess Luke Esser and Dwight Pelz need not apply -- yet. And you can't work for any of the vendors who want to sell voting machinery to the county. Makes sense.

Here's the exact wording for No. 3:

Must earn certification as an elections administrator from the Washington Secretary of State within 30 months of being elected or appointed to the office, and meet all continuing education requirements.

(Scroll down to see earlier posting about state Sen. Pam Roach's interest in the job.)

Council acts to prevent conflicts of interest for
new office of King County Elections Director

Voters who created elective office also called for Council to set qualifications

Now that voters have made the job of King County Elections Director an elective office and empowered the King County Council to set qualifications for the office, the Council today unanimously set three standards that help ensure the new officeholder is impartial and free of any conflicts of interest.

=> Read more!

Off-peak fares for adults will rise to $1.75 in a couple months, then to $2 in 2010.

Here's the news release from the King County Council

Council finds savings in Metro budget
that enable delay of half of bus fare increase

$43.7 million in savings help push back second half of Executive-proposed 50-cent fare increase by one year while maintaining current levels of bus service

With record numbers of new bus riders coinciding with plunging revenues to support public transit, the Metropolitan King County Council today unanimously adopted a two-step fare increase that protects current levels of service while scrutinizing the transit system for cost-savings and efficiencies.

“Our highest priority is to maintain our current levels of service and keep buses on the streets,” said Councilmember Dow Constantine, chair of the Council’s Transportation Committee and co-sponsor of the fare ordinance. “This fare increase is not as sharp as originally anticipated, but should allow us to maintain service despite spikes in fuel prices or drops in the revenues that support public transit.”

=> Read more!

Sen. Patty Murray's staff says constituents are flooding her office with requests for tickets to President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration ceremony on Jan. 20.

Here's an update from her press secretary, Matt McAlvanah:

· After receiving more than 6,000 individual requests for tickets, Senator Murray’s office has stopped taking requests for tickets to the Inauguration ceremony.

· We stopped taking these requests on Wednesday November 12th because the demand for tickets far exceeds the limited number of tickets our office is likely to be provided.

· In 2005, our office received around 350 tickets and we expect a similar number for the upcoming ceremony.

· We are however, still taking names and contact information via our web-site and D.C. office phone lines for constituents to be added to a list for information on non-ticketed areas and any additional Inauguration information our office is provided.

· Washington state residents who have requested tickets PRIOR to November 12th will be notified in mid-November to early-December on the status of their request.

· We are asking that they please hold any follow-up calls or emails until after that time.

=> Read more!

Ron Morehouse, a Republican who took on incumbent state Rep. Dawn Morrell, D-Puyallup, this year, says he's already gearing up for 2010.

On Friday, he sent us this e-mail (the subject line referred to "2010 election":

After due consideration and encouragement from a Union Leader, republicans, democrats, and independents. I have filed to run for state legislature district 25. At this time a organization meeting is planned for December.

Many volunteers are needed if we are to unseat Dawn. If interested please contact Rocky Carroll at 1-360-893-4203. or myself at 253-847-5651 or e:mail: ron1@mashell.com

Ronald E. Morehouse
Candidate State Representative
District 25, Position 2

Now, Morehouse may have filed some paperwork with the state Public Disclosure Commission (he's required to), but he can't actually file for office until the first week of June 2010.

Given the outcome of this election, one wonders why Morehouse is so eager to get whooped again. He's trailing Morrell 32,809 to 23,304. That's 17 percentage points.

He also appears to be jumping the gun.

This from Dave Ammons at state elections:

People need to file papers with PDC the minute they start raising or spending money for an upcoming campaign. In the eyes of the PDC, that makes them an official candidate. But the official filing of the declaration of candidacy and the payment of the filing fee are what make the person an official candidate in our view. That’s what gets them on the ballot and in the Voters’ Pamphlet. That doesn’t occur until the first week in June, except for special elections.

There isn't much more to say, except I hear that state Sen. Mike Carrell, R-Lakewood, is going for a leadership position.

Oh yeah, and maybe finding a chair and office for newcomer, Randi Becker. She's the one who's beating longtime incumbent Sen. Marilyn Rasmussen, D-Eatonville.

Republicans are still outnumbered 31-18 by Democrats, after all.

Their caucus gets together somewhere near Sea-Tac Airport so the senators flying in from Eastern Washington don't have far to drive.

The Olympian reported this today, and raises a good point. It's not unusual for cabinet members and other top-level staffers in an administration to move on. It's pretty tough to do two consecutive four-year stints.

Here is a link to Adam Wilson's blog posting.

State Rep. Jim McIntire, D-Seattle, is wasting no time getting ready to start his new job. He's beating deputy state treasurer Allan Martin, a Republican, by about 50,000 votes out of 2.7 million ballots cast.

For those of you who worried because McIntire favors a state income tax, don't. The state treasurer can't enact a state income tax all by himself. At least, I don't think so. I think it takes a constitutional amendment.

Looking at the current personnel in the Washington treasurer's office, I'm thinking one of the first things McIntire might do is get a new executive assistant. I mean, unless he wants to keep Susan Martin. She's married to his election opponent.

She has been executive assistant to current state Treasurer Mike Murphy's for quite a while. And some of you may recall Murphy, a Democrat, was featured in radio ads, asking fellow Democrats to vote for Martin (not McIntire) even though Martin is a Republican.

For Immediate Release: Monday, November 17, 2008
Contact: Christian Sinderman (206) 683-8380

McIntire Assembles State Treasury Transition Team

Leaders from local and state government, private sector will assure smooth transition to new leadership.

SEATTLE—State Treasurer-elect Jim McIntire has announced a team of finance leaders from throughout the state to assist in the transition to new leadership in the office. The team of 14 is led by Tim Kerr, who served as Deputy State Treasurer and the current Treasurers of Whatcom, Thurston, and Clark Counties.

=> Read more!

That's what Leavenworth Mayor Rob Eaton told me just a few minutes ago. I caught Eaton on his cell phone. As luck would have it, he said he was in downtown Seattle, walking to a meeting with Amtrak folks.

And he'll call me back when he gets out of that meeting.

But for now, let me report that Leavenworth plans to break ground on its Amtrak station in March 2009 and finish Phase I by September. Then, Amtrak trains on the Empire Builder route between Seattle and Chicago will resume their stops in Leavenworth.

The station and railroad tracks are about 1 mile outside the town with the Bavarian theme. And that's where the new station will be. Right now, Amtrak doesn't stop in Leavenworth, so you have to take a bus. Or take the train and stop somewehere else in Eastern Washington and backtrack.

Eaton said Leavenworth used to have a station in the late 1920s, but it closed in the early '30s.

Just last night, the city held a fundraiser and private sources ponied up $32,000 toward the goal of $125,000 he said.

Eaton said the city already has gotten appropriations from the federal government, the state government and Chelan County. Those total about $1 million.

Phase 1 will cost $1.1 million, he said. The mayor said Leavenworth is the No. 6 destination in Washington, with between 1.5 million and 2 million visitors for the German theme stuff, plus another 1 million visitors to nearby campgrounds, mostly in the summer months.

This isn't something I ordinarily write about because Leavenworth is not on my state government beat. But I'm following up on a telephone call that I got last week while I was the Reader Representative for The News Tribune. Lois Ballew of Edgewood wanted to know when Amtrak would open a station. The station was supposed to open this fall, but was delayed.

Eaton said the Federal Railroad Administration held things up for a bit.

Seven orcas is 10 percent of Puget Sound's population, according to the following news release. The special meeting is tomorrow.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 17, 2008o

MEDIA ADVISORY
Puget Sound Partnership to hold special meeting on orcas

OLYMPIA – The recent loss of seven Puget Sound orcas – close to 10 percent of the Sound’s orca population – has prompted the Puget Sound Partnership to convene a special meeting tomorrow of salmon and orca experts.

The Partnership’s Science Panel will discuss with the specialists:
-- Declines in population;
-- The association that the loss of Chinook salmon has on the declines; and
-- What steps the Partnership can take to address the situation in the near and long term.

=> Read more!

The state Fish and Wildlife Department is setting up a hot line to report dead or sick swans. The problem appears to be up north in Snohomish and Whatcom counties.

The hotline is 360-466-4345, ext. 266. Callers are asked to include their name and phone number and the location and condition of the swans. The hotline is available 24 hours a day through the end of February.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
November 17, 2008
Contact: Jennifer Bohannon, (360) 466-4345 ext. 281

Hotline to report dead or ill swans available

OLYMPIA - In a continuing effort to monitor trumpeter swans that have succumbed to lead poisoning, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has re-established a hotline to report dead or ill swans in Whatcom, Skagit and Snohomish counties.

=> Read more!

Maybe never. At least, not until Initiative 1029 came along.

Adam Glickman, spokesman for the Service Employees International Union Local 775NW, the group that pushed I-1029, sent me an e-mail on Friday, pointing out that I-1029 was the first ballot measure to surpass 2 million votes.

At this moment, there are 2,059,922 votes in favor and 782,564 against.

Glickman may be right.

Brian Zylstra, spokesman for Secretary of State Sam Reed, made a quick check today.

"I looked back to 1987, and none of them broke 2 million," Zylstra said.

The measure that got closest was Initiative 297, the one about Hanford cleanup. It received 1,812,581 votes in the 2004 general election.

Of course, it helps to have an attractive ballot title and summary, and I-1029 certainly did.

Initiative Measure No. 1029 concerns long-term care services for the elderly and persons with disabilities.

This measure would require long-term care workers to be certified as home care aides based on an examination, with exceptions; increase training and criminal background check requirements; and establish disciplinary standards and procedures.

Should this measure be enacted into law?

What's surprising is that nearly 800,000 people voted against what appeared to be criminal background checks requirements for home care workers and more training. (Actually, most newspapers urged "no" votes because that training is going to cost taxpayers about $20 million a year.)

Here's Glickman's news release:

=> Read more!

I have it on pretty good authority that she does. But state Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn, is being noncommittal at the moment.

I reached her this morning at her home, and put the question to her point blank.

"I don't have any designs on it," Roach said. "I've been asked to run. I don't know if I will."

Don't you believe it. She's been asking around state government and King County government. And remember, Roach has been trying to get a $100,000-plus job for years, ever since her mentor and former boss, King County Councilman Kent Pullen died.

The new King County director of elections, which was made an elective office by voters in this election, will be paid $144,000 a year. The election will be held Feb. 4, 2009.

That's about three weeks after the Legislative session begins, which poses a problem for Pam because legislators aren't supposed to raise money while the Legislature is in session. (Session starts Jan. 12)

At least Pam won't have to move around to establish residency, as she did to make herself eligible for a couple of County Council seat runs. Her home east of Auburn already is in King County, and that's good enough.

Some other names have come up in connection with the new county post. Ross Baker, county council chief of staff, is said to be interested. Joe Fain, the guy who mobilized folks in favor a making the council jobs non-partisan, might run. Add to the mix the names of Seattle Port commissioner Lloyd Hara and former Maple Valley city manager Anthony Hemstad, who resigned from that city job in July.

State Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, a relative newcomer to the Senate (although not new to the Legislature) has been promoted to the No. 2 leadership post in the Senate. He is caucus chairman.

Sen. Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, was reelected majority leader by her colleagues. Her majority will be smaller by one, given the defeat of incumbent Sen. Marilyn Rasmussen, D-Eatonville. But D's still will outnumber Republicans 31-18.

Sen. Tracey Eide, D-Federal Way, was reelected floor leader.

Murray's ascendency means he most likely won't get a committee chairmanship. Leadership usually doesn't do double duty.

Senate Democrats will pick their committee chairmen and chairwomen during Assembly Days, Dec. 4-5.

Senate Democrats choose new leadership, welcome new members
FOR IMMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 15, 2008

OLYMPIA – New membership among state Senate Democrats after the November elections led to some new faces elected to the caucus leadership team at a reorganization meeting today in SeaTac.

=> Read more!