Letters to the editor

Election correction

Some problems are intrinsic to inherent flaws

Editor, The Times:

"Strong, smart advice for county elections" [Times editorial, July 29 and see "Restoring public trust in King County elections," guest commentary, July 28] is about a problem that certainly needs fixing and soon. Some of the things suggested by the task force appointed to study the problem may help, but others won't.

"Require ballots to be received, not merely postmarked, by 8 p.m. Election Day," for instance. Even if the ballots are mailed out late, as usual, to those likely to vote against the incumbent?

"Allow one recount and require it to be conducted by hand." By people who owe their jobs to one of the political parties?

The greatest flaw in the recommendations made by the task force, however, is an omission — to fire those responsible for violating the rules in the last election. New rules won't help if people aren't held accountable.

Leading the list of those who should be sacked is King County Executive Ron Sims. His failure of omission in this equals his countless sins of commission — tent city, Critical Areas Ordinances, etc.

He appointed the task force, which helps explain its failure to recommend this, but not The Times' failure to suggest it. Fortunately, the voters are likely to decide this for themselves by the next election.

— Ed Davis, Issaquah

The bad plays on

The Times' boostering praise for Ron Sims' handpicked "elections task force" overlooked how this task force might have an eensy-weensy bit more credibility with the public if it were a serious task force, it had subpoena power and if its members had not been selected by Ron Sims.

Dean Logan is still here. Sims is still here. The Democrats still control King County and the Democrats seem to be benefiting quite nicely from crooked elections. The "elections task force" is a status quo task force, trying hard to rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic.

— John Nelson, Mercer Island

Nothing like being there

The Times says, "giving up a cherished tradition is worth the gain of a smoother election."

Going to the polls is not merely a cherished tradition but the very essence of the American way of democracy. It is the rarest combination nowadays of a sacred right and a public civic duty. It is not "insisted upon," but can be participated in proudly by all citizens.

As a poll worker over many years, I have watched conscientious parents show their rapt children what happens at the polls. I have regularly been stirred by the seriousness of the new citizen or 18-year-old, first-time voter, and realize the powerful impact of the process. The absentee voter misses out on a truly patriotic experience.

I also doubt whether all-mail balloting would result in smoother elections. Ballots have to be mailed out to registered voters, then mailed back, where they then must be checked, opened and put into machines to be counted. The possibilities of errors and fraud exist at each step.

At the polls, the voters are quickly identified and checked against lists already prepared, sign a registry, given ballots they put into machines, which immediately count them. The machine rejects wrongly filled-out ballots and the possibilities of fraud are pretty well eliminated.

— Charles Cross, Seattle

Backdoor Bolton

Trouble knocking

Gee, what a surprise — President Bush has appointed John Bolton as ambassador to the U.N., bypassing Senate confirmation and displaying this administration's utter contempt for that organization ["Bush names Bolton as U.N. ambassador," Times online, Aug. 1].

Too bad Bush can't come up with a way to force a backdoor appointment of his Supreme Court nominee as well, and avoid all this messy "advise and consent" business. Is it any wonder the American people are steadily losing faith in their government?

— Carolyn King, Silverdale

Nobody there

President Bush's circumventing standard procedure and appointing John Bolton as U.S. ambassador to the U.N., over considerable concerns from both parties about his appropriateness for the position, speaks quite poorly about the depth of talent available in the Republican pool.

If John Bolton is the best they've got, they've got problems. Is there really no other candidate available?

— Deborah Dinzes, Kirkland

Bid on track

Working on level ground

Letter writer Bob Gale asserts that in its contract negotiations with Cascadia Monorail Company, the Seattle Monorail Project (SMP) dropped certain requirements that had earlier prohibited Team Monorail from submitting a proposal to build the Green Line ["Locked out on the tracks," Northwest Voices, July 30]. This is not true.

Throughout the entire procurement process for the proposed Design-Build-Operate-Maintain contracts, SMP took the position that the potential contractor be responsible for the entire scope of work and that the equity owner or owners of the contractor guarantee their entire performance with their corporate balance sheets. These contract requirements have not changed and are all reflected in the proposed contracts with Cascadia.

The requirement for single point of responsibility (also known as "joint and several liability" for joint ventures comprised of two or more companies) only applies to the equity members of the team.

The key issue is whether the taxpayers can be confident that the companies we contract with are responsible for the entire Green Line. We have not altered that fundamental requirement.

— Ross Macfarlane, general counsel, Seattle Monorail Project

Out of the wind-up

Pitch this

In light of the recent, um, success of the Mariners' "Pitch 'N Stitch Night" ["M's hit one out of park with a night for knitters," page one, July 29], I'd like to propose the following promotional events at Safeco Field:

"Laundry Folding" Night: 10,000 lucky fans get their socks and undies folded by real Mariners players!

"You're The Grounds Crew!" Night: $5 off your ticket price when you rake and water the infield. Perform a stupid dance and receive an extra $5 off.

"No Beer!" Day: The first 25,000 sober fans get to, well, stay sober.

"Tall Guy" Night: All fans taller than the Mariners' Richie Sexon (who's 6'8") get in free. Short people pay double.

"Sleeping Pill" Night: Formerly known as the Mariners vs. the Devil Rays.

See, it's not that hard to do promotions work. I wonder if the Mariners are accepting resumes? If not, they should be.

— Peter Fessler, Seattle