A Snohomish County judge will decide if the King County Council properly changed the wording of an initiative that would reduce the number of council members from 13 to nine.
Tax initiative proponent and Mukilteo resident Tim Eyman and several King County voters filed a lawsuit Monday asking for an injunction prohibiting the King County legislative body from altering the original initiative.
The lawsuit also seeks a court order requiring the original wording of the initiative to go to King County voters in November.
Eyman also is a member of the Yes on I-18 Committee, which sponsored the initiative. The measure drew some 71,000 signatures.
“The issue at hand is if 71,000 people have a right to vote on what they signed, or should the County Council have the ability to change and modify the initiative? Clearly they do not,” Eyman said.
The measure, originally proposed by the King County Corrections Guild, was slated for the 2003 ballot until a King County judge struck down the measure. The state Supreme Court later reinstated it.
About two weeks ago, the King County Council made what it described as technical changes, pushing the effective date of the smaller council from 2005 to 2007. It also voted to restructure three regional committees.
Those changes are substantive, not technical, Eyman said. “It’s naked, self-serving job protection,” he said. “It’s a clear effort to sabotage this very popular initiative from the people.”
Four King County residents also are named as plaintiffs, including Fay Pullen, widow of former Councilman Kent Pullen.
King County and the council are among the defendants.
Bellevue lawyer Mark Kimball, who filed the lawsuit, said he hopes to get a quick resolution.
Eyman said he believes King County election officials will need to have the issue resolved by Sept. 17 to meet deadlines to get material into voting pamphlets.
Reporter Jim Haley: 425-339-3447 or haley@heraldnet.com.
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