Letter: Reject Charter Amendments No. 17 and 18 – Stop the power grab

Clark County resident Rob Anderson shares his thoughts on the proposed charter amendments

Rob Anderson, founder
Reform Clark County

Auditor Greg Kimsey is at it again. It wasn’t enough that he architected a flawed Home Rule Charter that concentrated power in the executive branch of Clark County, leading to several waves of amendments to correct glaring omissions and issues. Now, Kimsey has initiated two new charter amendments, No. 17 and 18, which would fundamentally shift power away from the people and into the hands of a select few government officials. These amendments are dangerous overreaches, supported mainly by government insiders, that would limit citizen-led initiatives and undermine fairly represented elections. We must vote NO to protect our rights and prevent the concentration of power in the hands of a few.

Amendment No. 18: An Underhanded Attack on the Right to Petition

The Washington State Constitution guarantees that the right to petition “shall never be abridged.” Yet, Amendment No. 18 stealthily does exactly that. This proposal would dramatically expand the power of government officials — specifically the County Auditor and Prosecuting Attorney — to restrict future citizen initiatives. By introducing additional subject limitations with vague language like “however, this is not a complete list,” officials would have expanded authority to inject their legal opinions and financial estimates into the petition process before a single vote is cast. Worse still, there would be no appeal process for these potentially biased opinions and estimates.

Imagine trying to bring a critical issue to the ballot, only to have it blocked or crippled by a handful of government insiders who claim it’s legally or financially problematic. These officials could suppress petitions that challenge their own authority, with no opportunity for citizens to push back. This is a blatant attempt to consolidate control and limit public participation in shaping Clark County’s future.

Clark County already imposes more restrictions on citizen initiatives than any other charter county in Washington. This amendment, the third since 2015, would make it even harder for ordinary citizens to have a say in local governance. Think about it: with the existing requirements, not a single initiative has made it onto the ballot in the past almost 10 years. Yet, this is another attempt to further restrict the initiative process — the only direct self-governance tool citizens have. We must protect this vital process, which holds elected officials accountable when they fail to address key issues. Voting NO on Amendment 18 ensures that the people — not politicians — remain in charge of our government.

Amendment No. 17: A Power Grab That Threatens Fair Representation

Amendment No. 17 would undermine the fairness of our elections by overhauling the redistricting process. Currently, redistricting in Clark County is managed by a bipartisan committee, with both major political parties submitting candidates to ensure balance. This system, while not perfect, prevents any single party from controlling how district lines are drawn. Amendment 17 would destroy that balance by giving the County Council — dominated by whichever party controls the majority — lopsided control over the selection process.

This amendment introduces vague and untested redistricting criteria, making it more susceptible to gerrymandering districts. Even worse, it shifts power away from the current bipartisan committee to a “redistricting master,” a county GIS employee, and a new committee entirely selected by the County Council. This supermajority requirement to alter redistricting proposals effectively centralizes control in the hands of a few.

This amendment isn’t about creating a better system — it’s about consolidating power in the hands of the political elite. We must reject this amendment to preserve the integrity of our redistricting process and ensure that our elections remain fair and balanced.

The Choice is Clear: Vote NO

Amendments No. 17 and 18 are attempts to erode the rights of Clark County citizens while concentrating power within government officials. We cannot allow these dangerous changes to take root. By voting NO, we safeguard our right to petition, protect fair and balanced representation in our elections, and ensure that government remains accountable to the people — not the other way around.

Reject both amendments and please share this with others. Vote NO to stop the power grab in Clark County. Learn more at reformclarkcounty.com.