Drafter
Clerk 11/18/2008
Title
AN ORDINANCE establishing qualifications for the elected office of King County director of elections; and adding a new chapter to K.C.C. Title 2.
Body
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
1. Initiative 25 placed a charter amendment on the November 4, 2008, ballot asking the electorate if it wants to amend the King County Charter to establish the office of an elected director of elections.
2. Ordinance 16206 placed a charter amendment on the November 4, 2008, ballot asking the electorate if it wants the county council to have the authority to establish qualifications for office for a variety of county officials including an elected director of elections.
3. Conducting accurate, fair and transparent elections is one of the most important functions of King County government.
4. King County has made significant improvements in the conduct of elections since the general election of 2004.
5. It is critical to continue to make improvements to elections operations both for reasons of governance as well as maintaining public confidence.
6. Conducting elections is very challenging and requires strong technical skills as well as top level management skills and integrity.
7. It is in the public interest that minimum qualifications for an elected director of elections be established in order to help ensure that the director of elections has the requisite skills and character to properly manage the function.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Sections 2 through 6 of this ordinance should constitute a new chapter in K.C.C. Title 2.
NEW SECTION. SECTION 2. In addition to qualifications in the King County Charter, the qualifications for the office of King County director of elections are:
A. The person shall not hold an office in a political party while serving as the director of elections;
B. For one year immediately before filing to run for, being appointed to or holding the office, the person shall not b...
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