Special candidate filing held for Elections Director

County’s first vote-by-mail election slated for Feb. 3, 2009

A special three-day candidate filing for the county’s chief election official is planned for Wednesday, Dec.10 through Friday, Dec.12, 2008. Candidates interested in this non-partisan position will need to file in person or by mail at election headquarters in Renton from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. State law directs that special filing periods be only three days rather than the traditional five-day filing period held every June. Included will be a special candidate filing for five commissioner positions in the proposed Fall City Metropolitan Park District, also on the February ballot.

Voters approved charter amendment 1, choosing to elect the director of the Elections Division in the upcoming February 3, 2009 special election. Most recently the director has been appointed by the County Executive and confirmed by the Metropolitan County Council.

Responsibilities of the elections director include: administering up to six elections a year for 143 jurisdictions, managing the voter rolls for 1.1 million voters, filing candidates for office, verifying initiatives and petitions, and managing a staff of 61 full time staffers and more than 600 temporary employees, and over-seeing a budget of $19,586,056.

The King County Charter requires that a candidate for county office be at least 21 years old, a U.S. citizen, and a registered voter in King County. In addition to these requirements, the County Council recently specified three additional qualifications required for the person who is elected to oversee all King County Election services. The elected director:

• Cannot hold an office in a political party while serving as the director of elections.
• Cannot have worked for, performed paid services for, or hold a financial interest in any non-governmental company that designs, manufactures or sells elections tabulation or voter registration equipment or software, for one year immediately before filing to run for, being appointed to, or holding the office.
• 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.

With 1,105,965 active registered voters, King County has more than twice as many voters as the second largest county in the state and is the 14th largest county in the nation in terms of total population. When King County transitions to vote by mail for the Feb. 3, 2009 special election, it will become the largest jurisdiction in the nation to conduct elections entirely by mail.

Facts about the elected elections director position:

• Candidate filing fee: $1,460.40
• Salary: $146,040.24. (78.5 percent of the King County Executive pay in 2009)
• Term of office begins: Feb. 18, 2009 (upon certification of the election)
• Term: Two year, initial term ending Dec. 31, 2011, the full, four year term will be on the ballot in Aug. 2011.
• Withdrawal: Pursuant to 29A.24.131 there is no provision to withdraw after a special three-day candidate filing.
• Learn more about the Elections Division online at www.kingcounty.gov/elections and click on the newsroom link.

Facts about the commissioner positions for the proposed Fall City Metropolitan Park District

• Number of positions: Five
• Candidate filing fee: No filing fee
• Salary: No annual salary
• Term of office begins: Feb. 18, 2009 (upon certification of the election provided the proposed district passes)
• Term: The staggering terms of office shall be determined pursuant to RCW 35.61.050.
• Withdrawal: Pursuant to 29A.24.131 there is no provision to withdraw after a special three-day candidate filing.

Important dates related to the Feb. 3, 2009 special election

• Dec. 10 – 12 - special candidate filing
• Dec. 12 – deadline for jurisdictions to file resolutions for the February election.
• Dec. 17- 19 - candidate statements and photos are due within 7 days of filing for office
• Jan. 12 – voters’ pamphlets mailed
• Jan. 14 through 16 – ballots mailed to 1.1 million registered voters in first countywide, vote by mail election.

King County Elections is located at 919 SW Grady Way, Renton 98057. View directions online.