February 20, 2007

OLYMPIA… Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver, is the prime sponsor of Senate Bill 5701, which would change county commissioner elections to voting by district. The bill was heard in the Senate Government Operations and Elections Committee on Feb. 19.

Present law allows for commissioners to be nominated in primary elections by district, but commissioners are voted on countywide in the general election.

Benton’s bill would allow for a ballot proposition to elect commissioners by district to be submitted to voters either by the board of county commissioners or by a petition signed by at least 10 percent of registered voters who voted in the last county general election.

 “When elected by districts, commissioners are more likely to be sensitive to the small but frequently important problems that people in a given area have,” Benton said. “District elections would reduce voter alienation by bringing government closer to the people and make governments more responsive. There are unique interests to different parts of the county, just like there are in our senatorial and representative districts.”

Benton said voters in a district would know their commissioner better and would not hesitate to call or visit them. Data shows that with district elections at all levels of government, voters have a stronger tie to their representative.

During testimony on the bill, the concern was brought up that commissioners have to serve the whole county, not just the district from which they are elected.

 “The Legislature has to govern the entire state, but we are elected by district,” Benton said in response. “This bill doesn’t change the responsibility of broad governance, it just allows the county commissioner to be closer to the people they serve.”

Counties were first recognized by the state constitution adopted in 1889. Historically, the role of counties has been to be an administrative arm of the state. Counties maintain records, provide courts and law enforcement, build roads and conduct elections.

Currently, 33 of the 39 counties in Washington are governed by a board of county commissioners.

“I think voters should have a choice,” Benton said.

Benton’s bill is co-sponsored by Sen. Craig Pridemore, D-Vancouver, who served on the Clark County Board of Commissioners prior to being elected to the state Senate.

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Additional contact Jackie Brinkman at (360) 786-7069 or brinkman.jackie@leg.wa.gov