Charter panel asserts independence

Snohomish County's Charter Review Commission agreed last week to hire outside legal counsel instead of using attorneys in the county Prosecuting Attorney's Office.

The move was intended to eliminate any public perception that the autonomous body, which will recommend updates to the county's chief operating document, is beholden to any of the county's political officers.

Prosecuting Attorney Janice Ellis told the 15-member commission last week that her civil division could help the panel with legal questions. Also addressing the commission and offering support were County Executive Aaron Reardon and County Council Chairman Kirke Sievers.

Though each of the county's departments will have the opportunity to offer proposals for the commission to consider, panel members said they wanted to quickly establish their independence.

"I have no concern over the prosecuting attorney's abilities," said commission member Mark Bond, who also is a Mill Creek councilman. "My concern is public perception."

Instead, the commission will hire an attorney, chipping away at the $50,000 budget set aside for it to complete its work. The commission is to present charter changes to voters in November's general election.

It has until about mid-August to complete that process after working steadily between now and then to gain an understanding of what new charter needs the county might have. Charter-review panels are elected every 10 years.

In 1986, the review commission proposed five amendments to the county charter. Four were to eliminate election of the treasurer, auditor, clerk and sheriff, placing them under the Executive's Office. Voters rejected those changes. A fifth amendment, to give more power to County Council members, to require a county-code update and to change procedures for amending ordinances, was approved.

The 1996 commission offered eight propositions. The two most significant were to enlarge the County Council from five to seven positions, which failed, and to make the offices of treasurer, auditor, assessor, sheriff and clerk nonpartisan, which passed.

Though the commission is officially nonpartisan, it is clearly made up of Republicans and Democrats. The decision to distance itself from the county's elective offices was supported by members of both parties, however.

Still, commission members plan to begin inviting the county's elected officials to meetings in February so they can discuss changes they would like, said commission Chair-

man Mike Cooper, a former Democratic state legislator from Edmonds.

Two rounds of public meetings in each council district also are expected: the first to take a pulse of residents' wishes and the second to get opinions on draft proposals.

Christopher Schwarzen: 425-783-0577 or cschwarzen@seattletimes.com