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VOTE APPROVED
Vote YES on Making the King County Sheriff an Appointed Position
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Charter Amendment 5 would increase accountability for the sheriff’s office by making it accountable to the King County Executive and County Council. Local and national protests have driven the public to demand greater transparency and oversight of law enforcement. Passing King County Charter Amendment 5 would allow the King County Executive to select a sheriff, who would then be approved by the King County Council. Members of the King County Council, including Councilmember Girmay Zahilay, who created the Electeds for Justice pledge, are leading this effort in response to the calls for broad structural reform and reimagining of the police.
Currently, the King County Sheriff is an elected position that oversees an office of more than 1,000 employees. The sheriff's position has been both elected and appointed throughout the decades. Between 1852 and 1969, sheriffs were elected, which voters changed to an appointed position in the 1968 election. The last change to the office occurred after voters reverted it to an elected position again in 1996.
Advocates for Charter Amendment 5 say that council members could make decisions to redirect functions of the office that aren't serving the public, like having armed officers responding to mental health calls. In addition, since recent sheriff candidates have all come from within the sheriff's office, an appointed sheriff could improve the opportunity for outside candidates by expanding the hiring pool beyond the current department. Furthermore, the office polices less than a quarter of King County since most cities have their own police departments. With council members representing seven of the nine districts, and a requirement for community stakeholder input built into the selection process, residents of unincorporated areas and cities that contract the Sheriff's Office for services will have greater representation over their police force.
Finally, elected sheriffs can only be removed from office by election or a recall, which is extremely rare and challenging. Under Charter Amendment 5, an appointed sheriff could be replaced by the county executive and council.
Vote "Yes" on Charter Amendment 5 to make the King County Sheriff's office more accountable.
Last updated: 2023-04-05Charter Amendment 5 would increase accountability for the sheriff’s office by making it accountable to the King County Executive and County Council. Local and national protests have driven the public to demand greater transparency and oversight of law enforcement. Passing King County Charter Amendment 5 would allow the King County Executive to select a sheriff, who would then be approved by the King County Council. Members of the King County Council, including Councilmember Girmay Zahilay, who created the Electeds for Justice pledge, are leading this effort in response to the calls for broad structural reform and reimagining of the police.
Currently, the King County Sheriff is an elected position that oversees an office of more than 1,000 employees. The sheriff's position has been both elected and appointed throughout the decades. Between 1852 and 1969, sheriffs were elected, which voters changed to an appointed position in the 1968 election. The last change to the office occurred after voters reverted it to an elected position again in 1996.
Advocates for Charter Amendment 5 say that council members could make decisions to redirect functions of the office that aren't serving the public, like having armed officers responding to mental health calls. In addition, since recent sheriff candidates have all come from within the sheriff's office, an appointed sheriff could improve the opportunity for outside candidates by expanding the hiring pool beyond the current department. Furthermore, the office polices less than a quarter of King County since most cities have their own police departments. With council members representing seven of the nine districts, and a requirement for community stakeholder input built into the selection process, residents of unincorporated areas and cities that contract the Sheriff's Office for services will have greater representation over their police force.
Finally, elected sheriffs can only be removed from office by election or a recall, which is extremely rare and challenging. Under Charter Amendment 5, an appointed sheriff could be replaced by the county executive and council.
Vote "Yes" on Charter Amendment 5 to make the King County Sheriff's office more accountable.
Charter Amendment 5 would increase accountability for the sheriff’s office by making it accountable to the King County Executive and County Council. Local and national protests have driven the public to demand greater transparency and oversight of law enforcement. Passing King County Charter Amendment 5 would allow the King County Executive to select a sheriff, who would then be approved by the King County Council. Members of the King County Council, including Councilmember Girmay Zahilay, who created the Electeds for Justice pledge, are leading this effort in response to the calls for broad structural reform and reimagining of the police.
Currently, the King County Sheriff is an elected position that oversees an office of more than 1,000 employees. The sheriff's position has been both elected and appointed throughout the decades. Between 1852 and 1969, sheriffs were elected, which voters changed to an appointed position in the 1968 election. The last change to the office occurred after voters reverted it to an elected position again in 1996.
Advocates for Charter Amendment 5 say that council members could make decisions to redirect functions of the office that aren't serving the public, like having armed officers responding to mental health calls. In addition, since recent sheriff candidates have all come from within the sheriff's office, an appointed sheriff could improve the opportunity for outside candidates by expanding the hiring pool beyond the current department. Furthermore, the office polices less than a quarter of King County since most cities have their own police departments. With council members representing seven of the nine districts, and a requirement for community stakeholder input built into the selection process, residents of unincorporated areas and cities that contract the Sheriff's Office for services will have greater representation over their police force.
Finally, elected sheriffs can only be removed from office by election or a recall, which is extremely rare and challenging. Under Charter Amendment 5, an appointed sheriff could be replaced by the county executive and council.
Vote "Yes" on Charter Amendment 5 to make the King County Sheriff's office more accountable.
King County Charter Amendment 5 - Making the King County Sheriff an Appointed Position
Charter Amendment 5 would increase accountability for the sheriff’s office by making it accountable to the King County Executive and County Council. Local and national protests have driven the public to demand greater transparency and oversight of law enforcement.
Referendum 90
Young people deserve accurate information to help them make good decisions, to protect themselves, and to protect their futures. But today, too many students don’t receive high-quality, inclusive, medically accurate education about sex and healthy relationships, putting them at risk of sexual assault, unintended pregnancies, and sexually transmitted infections. In particular, students of color are more likely to receive incomplete or incorrect sex education.