A legislative body placing a measure on the ballot shall appoint a committee to write a supporting statement and another committee to write an opposing statement
VANCOUVER – Each year, the Clark County Auditor’s Office publishes a voters’ pamphlet which is mailed to all households in Clark County. It includes candidate statements and photographs and local ballot measures with supporting and opposing statements written by citizen committees.
A legislative body placing a measure on the ballot shall appoint a committee to write a supporting statement and another committee to write an opposing statement.
At its June 25, public hearing, the Clark County Council voted to place three charter amendment proposals on the Nov. 5, 2024, general election ballot. Each proposal would have one statement for committee and one statement against committee.
The first proposed amendment would change the sheriff’s salary to be 8% higher than the highest step of the undersheriff salary range.
The second proposed amendment would clarify the redistricting committee and redistricting plan, including, but not limited to, increasing the number of committee members, clarify the process of committee selection, identify a qualified person for the redistricting master, and provide clarity to the process for the redistricting plan. Redistricting is the process of redrawing county district boundaries following the release of the U.S. Census.
The third proposed amendment clarifies the process for an initiative, including, but not limited to, identifying the six subjects that may not be proposed, identifying initiatives that may require additional expenditures and revenue sources, and overall review.
To see the ordinances relating to the proposals, visit https://clark.wa.gov/councilors/clark-county-council-meetings and follow the links to the June 25, hearing.
Clark County citizens who wish to be appointed to any of the statements for or statements against committees are asked to contact Michelle Pfenning, County Manager’s Office, at Michelle.Pfenning@clark.wa.gov or by phone at (564) 397-2232.
The deadline to contact the County Manager’s Office to volunteer is 5 p.m. Friday, July 5, 2024.
Information provided by Clark Co. WA Communications.
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Here are the links to each of the 3 proposed charter amendments:
https://clark.wa.gov/sites/default/files/media/document/2024-06/2024-06-07.pdf
https://clark.wa.gov/sites/default/files/media/document/2024-06/2024-06-08.pdf
https://clark.wa.gov/sites/default/files/media/document/2024-06/2024-06-09.pdf
“identifying initiatives that may require additional expenditures and revenue sources, and overall review” is a little misleading. The issue is they want to let the PA’s office put a statement of opinion on the petition (was optional), voter’s pamphlet and THE BALLOT. Also, the want to include a financial assessment (another opinion) by the Auditor’s office, an office that has little expertise in financial projections, unlike the Budget office, on the petition, voters pamphlet and THE BALLOT.
Practically, this will allow government officials to put their thumb on the scale and unfairly influence voters. Remember, petitions are the only tool the people have to force government to take action, in most cases they don’t want to do.
If this passes, only government-approved initiatives will be successful in Clark County.