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.

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.