The same column appeared in this space the last two weeks.
After I wrote two weeks ago about problems with term limits in Snohomish County, I meant to use that material last week in another edition of the Enterprise but accidentally sent it for this one. What I should limit is my comments about term limits.
I’d like to offer an excuse, but I just sent the wrong material.
Here’s the column that should have appeared last week:
It’s good to have more school board candidates this year
Two years ago, fewer than 15 percent of the school board members elected in King and Snohomish counties had opponents. That meant almost no public debate over school issues.
The outlook for debate is better this year with contests for 40 percent of the positions. Thirteen percent have three or more candidates, forcing primaries in August to narrow the field to two for November.
In the Edmonds District, there will be contests for two of the three positions on the ballot, with a primary in the one with four candidates.
This year’s contests will mean candidate forums for both the primary and the general elections.
No reason to take a partisan ballot in the primary
There’ll be a partisan section on your primary election ballot, but don’t worry about whether to vote on the Republican or Democratic side of the ballot.
There’s no reason to choose either. The only partisan offices — county executive and county council member — each has only one Republican and one Democrat.
Sonics build for the future — somewhere else
By trading all-star guard Ray Allen for an extra pick in last week’s NBA draft and letting Rashard Lewis get away, the Seattle Supersonics have stocked their roster with young players who may make them a winning team in the future, but, by giving up their best known players, they’ve killed local interest in the team and prepared the team to develop into a winner in Kansas City or Oklahoma City.
King County shouldn’t allow a dog to vote
A King County woman is fighting charges of lying to a public official after she successfully registered her dog to vote, but it’s the county officials whose conduct is suspicious.
Elections officials should have suspected any material signed with a paw print, but they also should have questioned the dog’s eligibility to vote because he had no proof of being voting age and, as an Australian shepherd-terrier mix, he may not be an American citizen.
Evan Smith is the Enterprise Forum editor. Send comments to entopinion@heraldnet.com.
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