County Council praises elections watchdog group
August 24, 2010
By Warren Kagarise
NEW — 8 a.m. Aug. 24, 2010
King County Council members offered praise Monday for the citizen committee responsible for restoring confidence in the county elections office after the disputed 2004 race for governor.
The ceremonial support for the Citizens’ Elections Oversight Committee came, as King County Elections continues to tally ballots from the Aug. 17 primary.
“People expect their government to carry out certain basic tasks accurately; elections being a prime example,” council Vice Chairwoman Jane Hague, the sponsor of the motion and the sponsor of the legislation to create the committee, said in a news release. “The CEOC has had significant success in restoring voter confidence in King County Elections. I’m proud of what we have accomplished, especially since the 2004 debacle. ”
The contest between former state Sen. Dino Rossi, a Republican, and then-Attorney General Chris Gregoire, a Democrat, dragged on through recounts and a court challenge. In the end, Gregoire edged out Rossi by 133 votes.
County Council members created the watchdog group in 2003 to oversee elections and improve performance and accountability at the then-King County Elections Division.
“Since its creation in 2003, the oversight committee has provided sound recommendations and helped King County restore public trust in our elections process,” council Chairman Bob Ferguson said in the release.
The council made the oversight group permanent in 2006. The committee has offered more than 180 recommendations to improve King County elections.
The county has implemented many of the recommendations, and changes to state and federal elections laws covered several others.
Former Issaquah Mayor A.J. Culver serves on the committee as the Municipal League of King County representative. The council appoints the members to represent voters, the major political parties, civic groups and government agencies.
Culver served as mayor from 1982-89, as the city increased by about 2,300 people to 7,900 residents.
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