Northwest Briefly: Elections chief’s residency challenged
Published 8:30 pm Sunday, January 11, 2009
SEATTLE — A canvassing board is considering a challenge to the residency of King County elections director Sherril Huff, and whether she is eligible to run for the post now that it has become elective.
The job of elections director had been appointed until voters in November chose to make it elective. Huff, who was appointed to the job by County Executive Ron Sims, was living in Kitsap County at the time.
She changed her voter registration from Kitsap County to King County last month and two days later filed as a candidate for elections director, which will be decided in a mail-in election Feb. 3.
But one of five other candidates, Christopher Clifford of Renton, told the canvassing board on Friday that Huff hadn’t really moved from Bremerton to Seattle before she filed as a candidate.
But Huff submitted an affidavit that said she found the Seattle house for rent Dec. 7 and on Dec. 9 signed a lease and registered as a King County voter.
She said she intends to “remain and live at the new home.”
The canvassing board is expected to make a ruling within 10 days.
Vancouver, Wash.: 2 states buckle up more
The Washington Traffic Safety Commission says the state is no longer tops when it comes to motorists and passengers obeying seat-belt laws.
Commission communications manager M.J. Haught said observational studies nationwide have shown that Washington state’s rate — 96.5 percent last year — is the highest it’s ever been, with five years of steady improvement. But Haught said Michigan and Hawaii beat Washington out, with 97. 2 and 97.0, respectively.
John Moffat, the region’s administrator with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, noted unbuckled In a bulletin, Moffat said, “An unbelted vehicle occupant’s medical costs average $11,000 more per collision than those of a belted vehicle occupant’s.”
Aberdeeen: Renters displaced by fire
A fire that swept through the second story of an Aberdeen apartment building has left 20 people without a place to live.
Saturday morning’s blaze trapped a woman and her two children in their second-story apartment and firefighters had to use a ladder to help the mother get out. Aberdeen Battalion Chief Tom Hubbard told The Daily World that the children, both under the age of 2, had to be carried down.
Aberdeen police assisted two other residents who were using a fire escape.
Several residents were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.
It took 22 firefighters, some who were called in from off duty and others from nearby Hoquiam, about 45 minutes to bring under control. The first call came in at 9:22 a.m.
Oregon: Man killed in snowmobile accident
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office says a 43-year-old man died when his snowmobile struck a tree overhanging a trail near Elk Lake.
Sgt. Ronny Dozier says John P. Garcia of Bend died before paramedics arrived at the scene Saturday night.
The investigation remains active, but Dozier says it doesn’t appear that alcohol or excessive speed contributed to the collision.
Associated Press
