ELECTION 2016: RESULTS • STORIES • DATA DASHBOARD
EVERETT — Ballot measures to amend the charters of Snohomish County and the city of Everett were largely being met with approval in early election results.
Snohomish County had seven proposed amendments on the ballot. All but one was passing in Tuesday’s initial election results.
Of the three city of Everett amendments on the ballot, all were passing.
For Snohomish County, 15 elected charter commissioners vetted proposals early this year and came up with a final list in June. The propositions need just over 50 percent to pass.
The potential amendment that attracted the most opposition, Proposition 4, suggested changing the appeals process for some land-use and environmental approvals by removing the County Council and going through the courts instead. That amendment was failing, with 45.1 percent of voters supporting and 54.9 percent opposed.
Proposition 1, a proposal to enshrine the county’s Human Rights Commission in the charter was passing, but narrowly with 50.8 percent support.
Voters were showing strong support at 63.1 percent for Proposition 2, an amendment to incorporate the county ombudsman’s office in the charter. The measure also renames the ombudsman the “office of public advocater
With Proposition 3, voters also were in favor of updating the county’s nondiscrimination policies and substituting gender-neutral language for masculine pronouns. They supported the measure by nearly 60 percent.
Proposition 5, an amendment requiring more council meetings and hearings, including some outside council chambers in Everett, was passing with nearly 81 percent.
Proposition 6 was another proposal about giving the County Council more authority to confirm or reject appointments by the county executive. That proposition was passing with more than 82 percent.
The seventh and final county charter measure to change the process for redrawing county council distracts after each 10-year federal census was passing with more than 75 percent support.
The city of Everett had three measures on the ballot that would amend the city’s charter. All needed a simple majority to be enacted.
The changes were recommended by a committee that met 11 times in the spring to explore modifications to the city’s governing document.
Proposition 1 would eliminate the requirement that the council meet every week of the year. Instead, the council only would be required to meet 48 times per year, and it would have the authority to cancel meetings for holidays, due to inclement weather, or not having enough work.
Proposition 2 would allow the city clerk to remove out-of-date terms from the charter, such as “hereof,” “heretofore,” and substitute modern English.
Proposition 3 states that appointments to city boards and commissions should reflect the city’s diversity in gender, ethnicity, age and area of residence.
Proposition 1 was passing in election night returns, 69.1 percent to 30.9 percent. Proposition 2 was passing with 72 percent in favor. Proposition 3 had nearly 58 percent support on election night.
Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465; nhaglund@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @NWhaglund.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
