Sherril Huff endorsed for county elections job

A quiet election is under way in King County, an all vote-by-mail event to select the next director of county elections. The easy choice is the individual already doing the work, and doing it well. Our endorsement goes to current elections director Sherril Huff.

Voters opted to change the top elections post from an appointed position to an elected one. Huff was selected in 2007 by King County Executive Ron Sims. She did the basics of the job but also righted a listing ship.

One of her claims to fame, and it is legitimate, is she oversaw consolidation of three dispersed election facilities to one location and implemented important electronic security measures. Huff is credited with cleaning up the operation and dramatically improving organizational and cultural climate in elections.

The proof was in the latest election. King County produced a much smoother election in 2008 than it did in 2004 and Huff gets a lot of credit. Secretary of State Sam Reed has publicly complimented the county's noticeable improvements. He did not endorse in the race but is very impressed with Huff's work.

Huff is the consummate, calm professional. During this election already, she has been barraged with heated insults about moving into the county, which she did in December. She has long worked in King County while commuting from Kitsap County.

Our election laws allow her to make the move she did, but that is almost not the point. Huff stays cool when others are riled.

Managing the very complicated range of election activities requires a well-rounded leader. She has the résumé at Kitsap County elections and as top administrator to the Bremerton mayor to bolster her case. Even some of her challengers credit her with improving King County elections.

Make no mistake, it is not all hunky-dory. Significant computer challenges await any elections director and Huff may be wise to hire a few of her opponents to help. See Barack Obama for more information on how that strategy works. An additional area to work on would be for Huff to improve the way she communicates with the legislative branch.

Still, Huff has the skills, the temperament and broad knowledge of election operations for this new elective position, and she deserves voters' support Feb. 3.