The 2020 General Election will take place on Tues., Nov. 3. Your ballot must be received at a drop box location or postmarked prior to 8:00 p.m. on election day. The following are the recommendations by The Seattle Medium’s editorial board for your consideration, but ultimately the choice is yours to vote for the candidate or ballot measure that best serves your interest. Vote and the choice is yours. Don’t vote of the choice belongs to others. If you have questions regarding your ballot or registration, please contact your local county elections office (kingcounty.gov/elections).
Ballot Measures:
Ref. 90
The legislature passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5395 concerning comprehensive sexual health education. This bill would require school districts to adopt or develop, consistent with state standards, comprehensive age-appropriate sexual health education, as defined, for all students, and excuse students if their parents request.
Should this bill be:
Approve
Advisory Note 32
Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5323
The legislature imposed, without a vote of the people, a retail sales tax on pass-through charges retail establishments collect for specified carryout bags, costing $32,000,000 in its first ten years, for government spending.
This tax increase should be
Repealed
Advisory Note 33
Substitute Senate Bill 5628
The legislature imposed, without a vote of the people, a tax on heavy equipment rentals to consumers by heavy equipment rental property dealers, costing $103,000,000 in its first ten years, for government spending.
This tax increase should be:
Repealed
Advisory Note 34
Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6492
The legislature increased, without a vote of the people, the business and occupation tax rate for certain businesses, while reducing certain surcharges, costing $843,000,000 in its first ten years, for government spending.
This tax increase should be:
Repealed
Advisory Note 35
Engrossed Senate Bill 6690
The legislature increased, without a vote of the people, the business and occupation tax on manufacturers of commercial airplanes, including components or tooling, costing $1,024,000,000 in its first ten years, for government spending.
This tax increase should be:
Repealed
Engrossed Senate Joint Resolution No. 8212
The legislature has proposed a constitutional amendment on investment of public funds. This amendment would allow public money held in a fund for long-term care services and supports to be invested by governments as authorized by state law, including investments in private stocks.
Should this constitutional amendment be:
Rejected
King County
Charter Amendment No. 1
Inquests
Shall King County Charter Section 895 concerning mandatory inquests be amended to: (1) clarify that an inquest is required when a member of a law enforcement agency’s action, decision, or possible failure to offer appropriate care might have contributed to an individual’s death; and (2) to provide an attorney at the county’s expense to represent the decedent’s family in the inquest proceeding?
Yes
King County
Charter Amendment No. 2
Disposition of Real Property for Affordable Housing
Shall Section 230.10.10 of the King County charter be amended to remove a charter restriction on the county’s authority to transfer, lease or sell real property for less than fair market value when the property will be used for affordable housing?
No
King County
Charter Amendment No. 3
References to Citizens
Shall the Preamble and Sections 260 and 800 of the King County charter be amended to replace the word “citizen” with “public,” “member of the public” or “resident,” as applicable?
Yes
King County
Charter Amendment No. 4
Office of Law Enforcement Oversight – Subpoena Authority
Shall Section 265 of the King County charter be amended to authorize the office of law enforcement oversight to subpoena witnesses, documents and other evidence related to its investigations and reviews of county law enforcement officers?
Yes
King County
Charter Amendment No. 5
Making the King County Sheriff an Appointed Position
Shall the King County charter be amended to return the position of King County sheriff to an appointed position with a requirement for consideration of community stakeholder input during the selection process and to make the county executive responsible for bargaining working conditions with the department of public safety’s represented employees?
No
King County
Charter Amendment No. 6
Structure and Duties of the Department of Public Safety
Shall the King County charter be amended so that the duties of the county sheriff and the structure and duties of the department of public safety are established by county ordinance and the county executive is responsible for bargaining working conditions with the department of public safety’s represented employees?
No
King County
Charter Amendment No. 7
Prohibiting Discrimination on the Basis of Family Caregiver, Military or Veteran Status
Shall Section 840 of the King County charter be amended to prohibit discrimination in county employment and in county contracting with nongovernmental entities on the basis of status as a family caregiver, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression?
Yes
King County
Proposition No. 1
Harborview Medical Center Health and Safety Improvement Bonds
The King County Council passed Ordinance 19117 concerning this proposition to issue Harborview Medical Center improvement bonds. This proposition would authorize King County to make public health, safety and seismic improvements to Harborview Medical Center facilities, including construction of new buildings, renovation and upgrading of existing facilities and demolition of existing buildings, and to issue $1,740,000,000 of general obligation bonds maturing within a maximum of 20 years to pay for such improvements and to levy property taxes annually in excess of regular property tax levies to repay such bonds, all as provided in Ordinance 19117. Should this proposition be:
Approved
City of Seattle
Proposition No. 1
Funding for Transit and Related Transportation Needs
The City of Seattle’s Proposition 1 concerns funding for transit and related transportation needs in Seattle.
If approved, this proposition authorizes up to 0.15% sales and use tax expiring April 1, 2027, and as proposed in Ordinance 126115, to replace the current voter-approved 0.1% sales tax, expiring December 31, 2020.
Revenues are dedicated to: transit services benefitting Seattle residents, including frequent transit network maintenance and associated capital improvements; low-income fare programs for Seattle seniors, students, workers, and residents; and transportation needs related to COVID-19 recovery and the West Seattle Bridge closure.
Should this proposition be approved?
NO
Congressional Races
U.S. Rep. District 1
Suzan DelBene
U.S. Rep. District 7
Pramila Jayapal
U.S. Rep. District 8
Kim Schrier
U.S. Rep. District 9
Adam Smith
U.S. Rep. District 10
Marilyn Strickland
State Races
Governor
Jay Inslee
Lt. Governor
Denny Heck
Secretary of State
Gael Tarleton
State Treasurer
Mike Pelliciotti
State Auditor
Pat (Patrice) McCarthy
Attorney General
Bob Ferguson
Comm. of Public Lands
Hilary Franz
Supt. of Public Instruction
Chris Reykdal
Insurance Commissioner
Mike Kreidler
Legislative Districts
District 11, State Senator
No Endorsement
District 11, State Rep. Pos. 1
David Hackney
District 11, State Rep. Pos. 2
Steve Bergquist
District 26, State Rep. Pos. 1
No Endorsement
District 26, State Rep. Pos. 2
Joy Stanford
District 28, State Senator
T’wina Nobles
District 29, State Rep. Pos. 1
Melanie Morgan
District 29, State Rep. Pos. 2
No Endorsement
District 30, State Rep. Pos. 1
Jamila Taylor
District 30, State Rep. Pos. 2
Jesse Johnson
District 33, State Rep. Pos. 1
Tina Orwall
District 33, State Rep. Pos. 2
Mia Su-Ling Gregerson
District 37, State Rep. Pos. 1
Sharon Tomiko Santos
District 37, State Rep. Pos. 2
Chukundi Salisbury
District 43, State Rep. Pos. 1
No Endorsement
District 43, State Rep. Pos. 2
Frank Chopp
District 44, State Rep. Pos. 1
John Lovick
District 44, State Rep. Pos. 2
April Berg
District 47, State Rep. Pos. 1
Debra Entenman
District 47, State Rep. Pos. 2
No Endorsement
Judges
Supreme Court, Justice Pos. 3
Raquel Montoya-Lewis
Supreme Court, Justice Pos. 6
G. Helen Whitener
King Superior Court, Pos. 13
Andrea Robertson
King Superior Court, Pos. 30
Doug North
