Clallam's elected development director job going up for vote -- again

By Jim Casey, Peninsula Daily News

August 8, 2007


PORT ANGELES, WA- Like Texans who never tire of remembering the Alamo, Clallam County voters can consider again if they want to elect their community development director.

Charter Review Commission members Monday put the issue on the ballot for the election that will end Nov. 6 - the third time the question will be answered.

Voters defeated the idea of electing the person in charge of the county's building and land-use policies in 1983, but they approved it in 2002 - creating the only elected development director position in the nation.

The two men subsequently elected to the job, however, urged a return to county commissioners' appointing someone to it.

Rob Robertsen and his successor, John R. Miller, said an appointed administrator could fill the post better than an elected politician.

Bringing back the question saw proponents and opponents argue both sides of the same political coin:

People should have another chance to voice their preference, said backers.

The people already have spoken, and reintroducing the issue disrespects them, opponents countered.

'Part-time politicians'
Charter Commissioner Tom Shindler, an employee of the community development department, said staff turnover had climbed in 2003, when Robertsen beat former DCD Director Bob Martin.

The directors, he said, "can't be full-time department heads," he said.

"They have to be part-time politicians."

That view, answered Charter Commissioner Randy Simmons, could justify appointing every department head.

"Maybe we shouldn't elect anybody," he said.

In the end, Shindler was joined by Ken Wiersema, Jim Pickett, Sue Erzen, Norma Turner, Mickie Vail, Patty Morris and Kris Grier to put the question to electors again.

Simmons. Sue Forde, David Cummins, Terry Roth, Patti Adler and Rod Fleck voted against it.

Miller, chairman of the charter commission as well as development director, abstained.

The development director will be one of five possible changes voters may make to the charter, the county's virtual constitution.

Another one - independent candidates in partisan contests for county commissioner and prosecuting attorney will skip primary balloting and go directly to the general election - simply would align the charter with state law.

The other three issues are: