Sound Politics: Proof: County Council Democrats approved Sims' vote-by-mail proposal without seeing a plan

July 18, 2006

Proof: County Council Democrats approved Sims' vote-by-mail proposal without seeing a plan

Ron Sims on KUOW Weekday, June 15, speaking about his proposal for mail-only voting:

We do have a very good plan. And Dean has really put together a very, very good plan

[audio clip of quote. complete exchange online at KUOW starts at 5:28]

As I reported a few weeks ago, that "very, very good plan" appeared to be nothing but vaporware. Documents I received from the County Council through a public records request now prove that if Deanron ever had a plan for the vote-by-mail transition, the Council never reviewed it before they approved Sims proposal. Details after the jump.

In the meantime, if you're registered as a "permanent absentee voter", these revelations of dishonesty regarding the processing of mail ballots should give you enough concerns to prompt you to change your registration so that you can vote at the polls again.

This file includes all of the vote-by-mail documents reviewed by the Council that hadn't already been released to the public. (The previously released documents are Deanron's January 30 brochure and exhibits attached to the legislation. For the latter, visit Legistar and search for 2006-0191 ). It's clear that what the Council looked at wasn't even close to fleshed-out plan, just a lot of wishful thinking, some half-baked brainstorming and at best, what one source close to situation called "a plan for a plan". The Elections office has promised to release whatever other plan documents they might have by the end of this week. I'll keep you posted.

Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at July 18, 2006 12:21 PM | Email This

Comments

1. Hmmm... that's terrible if it's true.
Is there or will there be a rebuttal or refutation anywhere for comparison, or will the Party Bosses just stonewall this as usual (deeming it as rabid yappings beneath their contempt)?

Posted by: pseudotsuga on July 18, 2006 12:48 PM

2. Democrats always have a plan. And you don't need to know what it is until after you elect them or approve their plan, or approve the bonds they are asking for, etc. Like John Kerry on the war or Greg Nickels on the tunnel. They have a plan, and they regard it as presumptuous, even arrogant for anyone to question them or ask for review or study of their plans.

It's a good thing we don't let engineers build bridges this way.

Posted by: Jeff B. on July 18, 2006 12:59 PM

3. B.S.alert! Thank you, Stefan, for showing how empty all of it is. When Sims said "very good plan," "a very, very good plan", that was just a little too emphatic sounding. Now we know why.

Posted by: Misty on July 18, 2006 01:04 PM

4. Very, very good plan?

Hang on to your wallets I see a tax increase to pay for a very, very good plan coming.

Very, very good plans cost money don't ya' know.

Posted by: JCM on July 18, 2006 01:22 PM

5. Slightly off topic, but the news just broke that the Sonics have been sold to an Oklahoma City group. I am sure Simpleton and Nickelbag will be shedding copious amounts of tears about how the quality of life will never be the same in this area. Now if the Mariners and Seahawks would only follow suit...

Posted by: Burdabee on July 18, 2006 01:47 PM

6. Please forgive me... for this is way off target...but I must say this...

37 years ago today, July 18 1969, the "MORAL COMPASS" off the Demo rat Party drove his car off the Chappaquiddick Bridge near Edgartown Massachusetts, "drowning" his passenger Miss Mary Jo Kopechne. R.I.P.

"This Bud's for you, Teddy"

Posted by: Pacific Grove Phlash on July 18, 2006 03:06 PM

7. Great job. The "plan" was and is to delay, obfuscate and hope people forget (until the next election). As Napolean said, "it's not necessary to censor the news. It's sufficient to delay it until it no longer matters."

Posted by: WakeUpFool on July 18, 2006 04:16 PM

8. So............ Do we all write emails to the Dem's on the council telling them we want "A PLAN" before they start Spending More Money???

If Richard Pope can sue Costco, why can't we file suit with the KC council for spending our tax dollars on a "fictious" Plan that doesn't exist.

Hey Richard, can you help us out here? Your a lawyer, is there any HOPE?

Posted by: Chris on July 18, 2006 08:39 PM