Editorial: Lee caught up in county’s poor ballot planning

When voters shot down Pierce County Charter Amendment 1 on the general election ballot earlier this month, they denied moving elections for the county executive and county council members from even-numbered years to odd-numbered years. They also killed the proposal to added a third four-year term to those elected positions.

That means next year will be the end of the line for County Council member Terry Lee, who has represented the Gig Harbor and Key peninsulas so well for seven years.

What’s unfortunate is the way the county combined the two ideas into one proposed amendment, confusing voters and leading some to think those in charge were attempting to “rig the system.”

The problem with the proposed amendment was intensified when you consider Charter Amendment 2, which voters also rejected. No. 2 would have moved all other elected county offices — sheriff, assessor-treasurer and auditor — to odd-numbered years.

The concept is great: Move all county elections away from presidential and gubernatorial races in order to focus more attention on the county level. But placing multiple amendments on that ballot was not the way to accomplish that goal, especially when multiple propositions are involved.

Term limits are one idea. Moving county elections is another. You can’t combine them and hope to be successful. Why not put a single amendment forward to move all county elections to odd-numbered years?

When cost-cutting is at the top of everyone’s list — federal, state and county included — the possibility that either charter amendment would pass while the other failed would have created an added expense. It would have forced the county to print extra ballots every year, just like the extra Ranked Choice Ballot for the auditor’s office earlier this month.

We’re pleased that voters recognized that, but disappointed that the term-limit portion of Charter Amendment 1 was lumped in. Lee has been instrumental in drawing the county’s attention to our side of the Narrows bridges, from the acquisition of the Tacoma Narrows Airport this year from the City of Tacoma, to his continued work on the Shoreline Master Plan, just to name a few.

The additional four-year term would have been beneficial for all, because it can sometimes take a full term just to understand how county government works and how to get things done. And, naturally, if voters don’t approve additional terms, any elected position can be filled with a fresh face and new ideas.

We hope the county will recognize its flaw and give it another attempt in the future — with separate ideas presented to voters on individual amendments.