King County elections-chief job may see lots of candidates

After screwups that led to the 2002 firing of the King County elections superintendent, the resignation of her boss a few months later and investigations of the botched 2004 governor's election, you might wonder who would want to run the department.

A lot of people, it turns out.

At least eight declared or potential candidates have expressed interest in running for the $146,000-a-year job of elections director.

The Feb. 3 election was set when voters this month approved a charter amendment that makes the elections director a nonpartisan, elected position for the first time since the 1960s. The filing period is Dec. 10-12.

Former state Rep. Toby Nixon led an initiative campaign for the amendment after the Metropolitan King County Council rejected two independent review panels' recommendations that voters be allowed to choose an elections director.

Nixon cited poor management by some of County Executive Ron Sims' appointees as reason to make the elections chief directly accountable to voters.

The February election is unusual for reasons beyond its unusual timing.

There won't be a primary to winnow the field to two candidates. If votes are split among a larger number of candidates, the elections chief could be chosen by a minority of votes.

It also will be the first countywide election in which all voters will receive ballots by mail.

The County Council adopted an ordinance Monday ruling out any candidates who worked for an election-equipment manufacturer or vendor or held a substantial investment in such a company within a year of the filing period. The ordinance also requires that the new director become a state-certified elections administrator within 30 months of the election.

Chris Clifford, a local-government watchdog who is leading an effort to recall Seattle Port Commissioner Pat Davis, this week became the first announced candidate for elections director.

"We need someone who's going to vigorously guard against parties in that office. I don't want a strong partisan running that office," said Clifford, an Orting High School teacher and former restaurateur.

Among those thinking about running are veteran politicians state Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn; former King County Councilmember David Irons; and Seattle Port Commissioner Lloyd Hara.

Irons, who is CEO of privately held Convention Communication Provisioners, said the elections post is the first office he's seriously considered running for since his unsuccessful 2005 campaign to replace Ron Sims as county executive.

Hara, a former county auditor and Seattle city treasurer, said he will decide whether to run after he has a clearer picture of the elections director's duties.

Roach could not be reached for comment.

Jason Osgood, this year's unsuccessful Democratic challenger to Republican state Secretary of State Sam Reed, also may enter the race. A software developer, he claims machinery the county proposes to use in vote-by-mail elections is flawed.

Other potential candidates are:

• County Council Chief of Staff Ross Baker, who says he has gone "two-thirds of the way" toward deciding to enter the race;

• Joe Fain, chief of staff to County Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer, and chair of the successful campaign to make elections of the council, executive and assessor nonpartisan;

• Anthony Hemstad, a management consultant, Valley Medical Center commissioner and former Maple Valley city manager.

With so little time for candidates to raise money and campaign, Nixon said it will be difficult for political newcomers to take on experienced politicians whose names are familiar to voters.

Keith Ervin: 206-464-2105 or kervin@seattletimes.com