Vote NO on County Charter Proposition 1
This proposition was put forward last May in a last ditch effort by a disgruntled, lame duck, six-member County Council to change our current Charter. If approved, it may lead to:
. more instability in our county government
. an end to our right to vote for ALL County Council positions
. a small faction of special interests trying to undermine the Charter
Please protect our voter-supported Charter. Vote NO and reject County Proposition 1.
Bob Myhr
Former San Juan County Commissioner/Council Member
I find these arguments so curious—vote no on your right to petition for changes in government because it MAY lead to instability–of course it MAY…that’s why the petition right was created and should be preserved. Its a protection in this case–not a curse. And all this talk of conspiracy to “undermine” (scary that) is just plain tiresome–Orcas island voters did a lot of soul searching with the change to the Charter and didn’t, in fact, approve it–but it wasn’t a conspiracy of “special interests” that opposed the change any more than it was a “faction of special interests” who got it approved. Lopez simply voted as a block and that was good enough to override those other islands who were more conflicted about the choice. That’s politics. That doesn’t relate in any way to deciding to throw out your right to petition for change. Keep your right to petition AND enjoy the work of the Charter Review Commission. Both are good. Vote for the Charter Amendment Prop 1.
Agreed. Vote for Charter Amendment Prop. 1!
I guess it follows that those who favor the voters’ “right” to make major changes to the County Charter by petition would also favor a system which would allow the United States Constitution to be amended by popular vote. Yipes!
The proposition will have one, and only one, effect on the Charter: to allow voters to redistrict the county by initiative. The voters already have the right to amend by initiative every other feature of the Charter. Those who support the proposition can only have redistricting in mind because that is the only thing that the proposition permits. Don’t be fooled by people pretending you are voting for rights you already have. And of course, they are totally silent about redistricting, which is what they seek to carry out if the proposition passes. Do not let this happen. Reject Proposition 1.