Originally published July 22, 2008 at 12:00 AM | Page modified July 22, 2008 at 3:17 PM
Guest columnists
Let the sheriff manage the office
IMAGINE if you were in charge of more than 1,000 employees — but did not have the direct authority to implement or manage their contract...
Special to The Times
Imagine if you were in charge of more than 1,000 employees — but did not have the direct authority to implement or manage their contract.
That is precisely the situation faced by Sue Rahr, King County's elected sheriff, who does not have a seat at the table to manage the department's budget or personnel.
Consider further that the King County budget is facing a $68 million shortfall, a substantial portion of which will have to be absorbed by public-safety departments including the Sheriff's Office.
As citizens of King County, we must amend our charter to allow the sheriff to directly bargain with and manage her employees. Unfortunately, our Democratic colleagues on the County Council will not put this accountability measure on the ballot this year for your vote.
The county and sheriff's deputies are about to sign a comprehensive five-year contract containing several historic reform initiatives, including civilian oversight, performance evaluations and an early-warning system dealing with deputy conduct. However, unless this charter change is voted on and approved this fall, the sheriff will have a diminished role in implementing these reforms. At best, she will have limited input in issues subject to bargaining, contract interpretation, labor relations and discipline.
The independent Blue Ribbon Panel on Sheriff's Office Management unanimously supports this charter change. The Seattle Times, Seattle P-I and the Seattle Chamber of Commerce all endorse this amendment, as do former Democratic county executives Randy Revelle and Gary Locke. Most important, 62 percent of King County voters surveyed last month support this reform.
We believe the voters in our community make good decisions. You elected the sheriff. You have the power to judge and evaluate her performance with your vote. Sheriff Rahr must have the tools and authority to manage the employees and organization for which she is held accountable.
Join us in urging our Democratic colleagues on the council to reconsider their decision to delay. We want you to be able to make that decision this November.
Republicans Kathy Lambert, Jane Hague, Pete von Reichbauer and Regan Dunn are members of the Metropolitan King County Council.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
Joni Balter / Seattle Times editorial columnist: Our team in D.C. — Locke, Sims and Kerlikowske
Guest columnist: A way to get around Karzai in Afghanistan
Ryan Blethen / Times editorial columnist: Block NBC/Comcast deal to protect consumer choice
Charles Krauthammer / Syndicated columnist: New York trial a propaganda coup for terrrorists
Guest columnist: Stop blaming Grandma for cruddy Christmas presents
LA Galaxy's David Beckham
Los Angeles Galaxy's David Beckham talks about the upcoming MLS Cup final during after a team practice.
nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
- Monfort fired after excellent worker turned unreliable
- Sentence request for US woman in Italy murder case
- 31 years for man who killed girlfriend, then lit cigarette and waited for police
- Boeing facility death was suicide
- Swedish threatens to end Regence BlueShield's contract
- Man falls 8 stories, suffers minor injuries
- Mariners Blog | A Mariners-Tigers swap makes a whole lot of sense for both teams
- Man shot in chest on E. Union Street in Capitol Hill
- Italian lead prosecutor argues Knox motive was hatred
- Mariners Blog | Dustin Ackley to move to second base; Mariners add six to 40-man roster
- Swedish threatens to end Regence BlueShield's contract
170 - Italian prosecutors wrap up in Knox murder trial
109 - Boeing breaks ground for historic SC plant
85 - A Mariners-Tigers swap makes a whole lot of sense for both teams
84 - Mariners add six to 40-man roster
80 - Man sentenced to 31 years in prison in girlfriend's slaying on I-5
79 - First key vote today on Senate health bill
70 - Lynnwood is reinventing itself — again
53 - Man shot in Capitol Hill
51 - Italian lead prosecutor argues Knox motive was hatred
43
- Swedish threatens to end Regence BlueShield's contract
- Washington state wines make annual best-of list
- Recipes: Sesame Pork Roast, Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes, Gingerbread with Lemon Sauce and more
- It's possible to recover a life lost to hoarding
- Restaurant review | Artisanal at The Bravern shows French flair in delicious style
- Seattle industrial artist Rusty Oliver is the man behind 'Smash Putt'
- Peruvian police: Gang killed people for their fat
- Nonprofits get creative using Twitter and Facebook to make donation easier
- $335 million in education grants
- Monfort fired after excellent worker turned unreliable





