This afternoon my attorneys served King County with this summons, complaint and motion for violations of the Public Disclosure Act. The papers will be filed in Snohomish County Court tomorrow morning.
Thanks to the many readers who donated to the legal fund that made this possible!
Although the county has 20 days to respond to the complaint, the attorney is also asking the court to expedite the hearing on the Motion to Show Cause so that this matter can get a public airing in time for the November 8th election.
I really wish I had more time before the election for this lawsuit to play out in full. Unfortunately, Ron Sims and Dean Logan have largely succeeded at running down the clock in order to conceal this information from the public. Two of the most telling aspects of my complaint are the following:
[1] On December 27, 2004 I submitted a public records request to the County for “a list of all King County voters who submitted ballots in the Nov. 2 election.” The County did not satisfy this request in full until September 12, 2005.It took me at least four more letters and the presentation of irrefutable evidence from other documents to override King County's insistence that they didn't have the documents I was asking for, and which revealed the existence of dozens of unlawfullly counted ballots, among other things.
[2] On April 7, 2005 I submitted through my attorney a public records request ... [for] copies of “both the absentee ballot outer envelope and the provisional ballot envelope” for [91] known voters who submitted both types of ballots ... As of July 5, 2005 the County had not produced any of the absentee and provisional ballot envelopes I had requested, so I renewed my request and asked to examine all the original absentee ballot envelopes ... The County finally responded July 14, 2005 stating that only 27 (out of 91) of the provisional ballots were found and estimating that other documents would be produced July 22, 2005 ... I appeared at the elections office July 25, 2005, and received only 27 provisional ballots out of 91 identified ... On September 2, 2005 the County informed me that only 1 additional provisional ballot envelope responsive to my request had been located. ... On September 16, 2005 I obtained permission to examine the contents of a box marked “provisional ballot envelopes November 2004” ... Inside were approximately 59 more envelopes responsive to my request of April 7, 2005.If King County had released the documents that other folks and I requested 6 - 10 months ago in a complete and timely fashion, Rossi's legal team would have been able to present a much stronger argument that official misconduct occurred. What we've seen is not just a lazy agency dragging its heels to respond to document requests, but an organized effort to cover-up official misconduct and to obstruct justice.
Let's hope I draw a fair judge who can see Ron Sims and Dean Logan's contempt for the Public Disclosure Act and the citizens of King County for what they are.
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at October 25, 2005 06:05 PM | Email ThisKeep it going! And Thanks!
Posted by: Foothills Freak on October 25, 2005 06:36 PMKeep fighting the good fight for us all!
I wonder how much evidence is being destroyed as these corrupt officials attempt to cover their tracks.
Any luck getting the almighty transaction logs from their database server? A PRR for copies of back-up tapes from the January 2005 timeframe would be rather revealing, providing their transaction logs are on the tapes.
Posted by: SP Fan on October 25, 2005 06:38 PMSorry tax payers- I'd like to see the fine and monetary damages tripled. This is like fining an oil company $200 for a $2M oil spill. Sims calculates the potential fine as the cost of maintaining corruption.
Hopefully with the shroud that has been over KC elections since last November the courts will slap the Sims machine silly.
Posted by: Andy on October 25, 2005 07:48 PMholt You SUCK! Sims is the corrupt SOB who is the reason we have an illegitimate Queen who's now robbing us blind.
You obviously don't understand, they don't care! Remember Judge Bridges said it's up to the people to make the changes necessary to get legitimate and legal elections in our state.
We can only hope and pray for David Irons that he presents a clear and lucid message tomorrow morning when he debates the clear and present danger himself - Sims on KVI between 7 and 7:45AM. In the meantime, let's do our part to dismantle the corroded and corrupted Sims machine to bring freedom and justice back to King County.
Posted by: KS on October 25, 2005 09:43 PMAnd during this event, everything you've uncovered should be trumpeted loudly and clearly so most voters are aware of this before the election. It's obvious that Logan's actions and inactions had a direct impact on the gubernatorial race last year.
Every voter in King County needs to see the dots connected between Sims, Logan and that debacle of an election.
If I were Irons, I'd save up all my campaign dollars and then run a massive TV blitz of ads in the last three days that makes all of this crystal clear.
Sims is vulnerable.
Posted by: Jeff B. on October 25, 2005 11:49 PMnancy
Posted by: nancy on October 26, 2005 07:08 AMYes, Ron Sims has to go, but nothing in your post is helpful to the discussion. holt was actually agreeing with the main point of the posting, that it isn't right for Sims and KC to willfully hold back on the public records requests.
I find it refreshing to see someone like holt posting here, and being honest about their positions. Especially someone who is able to admit that they support someone who is as unpopular on this blog as Ron Sims is. Your attack was uncalled for and likely to discourage honest debate.
Yes, KC was and is probably corrupt. Nobody (well, not very many people at least) really believes that the November 2004 election was handled properly in King County. The majority of posters here also believe that Christine Gregoire is in office due to a miscarriage of justice, but none of that excuses personal attacks on other posters.
Posted by: Perri Nelson on October 26, 2005 11:22 AMIf the lawsuit impeds KC or media persons it will get attention. The more Rons Sims has to address the issue personally, the sooner it gets looked at. Not being together won't get you anywhere.
Now if someone puts a devil for each bad vote on the county sidewalks, that would get some attention. Or if someone spray painted the message on county buildings. I hate grafitti though. But the city seldom follows up on grafitti problems.
The few judges I have met in KC seem to carry a partisan weight to them. They have an issue that overides "being fair" and being a judge is the only way they can speak with impact. Let's say the majority of the judges are probably cool. I just haven't met them. I must be hanging out in the underbelly of the legal system.
If you can get the judge to issues some "stops" then the media will arrive.
I wonder how many election office employees would sign a petition to get the votes counted accurately. If Big Bird were the signature gatherer. Big Bird is an expert in counting?
The integrity issue for politicians is that if they won't deal honestly and quickly with dissent, then you have to get creative to get the message across. The lawsuit is a good thing. I wonder how you can tap the SeattleTimes for all the information they have on this? If they acquire a public record does it stay a public record once it reaches them?
Posted by: holt on October 26, 2005 04:38 PMWhat I don't think either of you realize is that Ron Sims doesn't give a damn if he breaks the elections laws or the public records act of this State.
HE IS THE PROBLEM and he has ROBBED us and this State of democracy! He wants to keep the power and money and will stop at nothing to maintain control of his empire.
Sorry holt, but anyone who is for Ron Sims is obviously misguided.
I apologize for saying you suck.
I come here for the adrenalin rush.
Posted by: holt on October 26, 2005 10:38 PM