What in the world were state lawmakers thinking?
They’re giving another nine months and $100,000 of taxpayer money to pursue a seemingly impossible agreement on where in Snohomish County to build a University of Washington campus, one for which ground may not be broken for years.
They want “interested parties” from Snohomish, Island and Skagit counties to gather and find their way to peace, love and consensus by Dec. 1.
OK, consensus on a location is all they are really requiring.
We all know the situation.
There are intractable forces dug in behind proposed sites in Everett and Marysville.
You could intravenously feed these combatants $100,000 worth of coffee and doughnuts and not speed them to resolution of this turf war.
Those wanting to plant the flag of the purple and gold in Everett tried to get the Legislature to instruct the UW to choose the site rather than the communities.
Those running the university are pretty darn smart. They wanted no part of such mischief and let it be known that the governor would be asked to veto such a directive if it appeared in print.
In the final budget, the specific language puts the state Higher Education Coordinating Board in the unenviable position of mediating this dispute.
It will be tough sledding for the HEC board, a somewhat anonymous and nearly toothless government appendage. The problem is that warring leaders look warily upon the board because of its past pooh-poohing of the need for a new college.
At this point, a conflict of this magnitude requires intervention from a presence with the power of an icebreaker. Or two.
Let me suggest calling U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and former U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton for help.
They’re prominent and politically balanced — she’s a Democrat, he’s a Republican.
Murray and Gorton know this area well; both reside on Whidbey Island, which is supposed to be served by the proposed four-year university.
They know the leading figures in this strife. They are held with enough esteem the combatants would come to a sit-down session if invited by Murray and Gorton.
Then, it’s anyone’s guess if they can all find the path to consensus in the next few months.
Murray and Gorton are conversant in overcoming tough challenges.
She’s stood her ground to protect veterans, asbestos victims and earmarks. She may pull off the improbable if the Air Force tanker contract is tossed out.
He’s done well in saving the Mariners, serving on the national 9/11 Commission and now trying to keep the Sonics in Seattle.
These two won’t be easily discouraged or deterred by high-minded, self-righteous or defiant attitudes they may encounter.
If they can quickly achieve an attitude adjustment of the participants, they may just as quickly forge an agreement among all.
I’ll bring my own chocolate bar and coffee for this conversation.
Political reporter Jerry Cornfield’s blog, The Petri Dish, is at www.heraldnet.com. He can be heard at 8 a.m. Mondays on the Morning Show on KSER 90.7 FM. Contact him at 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
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