Executive Sims names distinguished group to make independent review of county elections operations

On Monday, King County Executive Ron Sims appointed a commission of civic and business leaders, legal experts and elections professionals to take an independent look into King County elections and make recommendations for improvements. Cheryl Scott, retired President and CEO of Group Health Cooperative will chair the ten-person King County Commission on Elections that will review operations and policies as well as strategic reforms that are already underway. “This is a distinguished group of individuals with impeccable credentials and outstanding integrity,” said Executive Sims. “They are going to take a hard look at our elections operations and give us a nonpartisan, frank assessment and recommendations for needed changes.” In addition to Scott, the King County Elections Commission members are: Patricia Aitken, Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services mediator and former Superior Court Judge; David Boerner, Seattle University Associate Law Professor and former King County Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor; Dr. Philip Eaton, Seattle Pacific University President; Handy, Director of Elections for the State of Washington; Susan Hutchison, Executive Director of Charles Simonyi Fund for the Arts and Sciences, communications consultant and former KIRO TV anchor; Dr. Joe Knight, Dean of the University of Washington Law School; John Lindback, Oregon State Director of Elections; Suzanne Sinclair, Island County Auditor and past chair of the Washington State Auditors Association; and Father Stephen Sundborg, Seattle University President. “Elections belong to all of us, not just the political parties,” said Scott, who retired in 2004 after seven years as Group Health Cooperative’s President and CEO. “Every business, institution or citizen in King County has a stake in the performance of the elections system. I agree it’s time for a group like this to provide an independent review of elections systems, operations, policies and strategic plans. I’m honored to take on this work on behalf of the people of King County.” The commission’s charter will be to: 1. Provide for an appropriate, independent and comprehensive review of the 2004 election cycle; 2. Facilitate action to build public trust and confidence in the elections process; 3. Prioritize immediate actions to identify and correct deficiencies, elections processes and policies; 4. Propose strategies to ensure accountability, transparency and effective management of election operations; 5. Assess current organizational and systemic capacity for meeting the county’s electoral requirements; and 6. Initiate a policy review and discussion that results in meaningful election reform. The commission will review King County elections’ operations, policies, best management practices, quality assurance, and personnel and labor issues. The tentative timeline for the commission is to conduct its review during the next three months, issue its findings in July and give additional review and assessment in late September and again in January 2006. Outside staff will be hired to help the commission in its review.