Next election, Feb. 3

The King County elections director never should have been changed from an appointed position to an elected one, but voters insisted. When filing for the position begins Wednesday, voters will pick from a list of some marginal candidates.

Elections director is a very important job that requires highly qualified professionals with a unique background and experience in managing a complicated election system. This is not a home for wayward politicians seeking a juicy salary and benefits — or for those attempting to stage a political comeback.

Some names that have surfaced for the $146,000-a-year salary are troubling. One likely candidate, former elections superintendent Julie Anne Kempf, was fired years ago for allegedly lying to explain the late mailing of absentee ballots, a charge she denies.

Candidates include former King County Councilmember David Irons, state Sen. Pam Roach, Seattle Port Commissioner Lloyd Hara and former King County Elections Manager Ellen Hansen.

It is too early to endorse a particular candidate but voters are lucky that current Elections Director Sherril Huff decided to run for her own job. Huff has overseen strong improvement of the operation, including consolidation of efforts in one building in Renton. Huff has to move from Kitsap County — where she was twice elected as county auditor — to King County to qualify.

The Feb. 3 election is final. There is no primary to whittle down the candidate list. With six or seven or more candidates likely to file, the individual who wins will probably do so by a very small margin.