My votes for today’s ballot (yes, I’m just now filling it out…but at least I’m voting, even if it’s on the deadline day). Thanks to Metroblogging Seattle’s endorsement rundown, too.
State of Washington
I-900: Initiative Measure No. 900 concerns performance audits of governmental entities. This measure would direct the state auditor to conduct performance audits of state and local governments, and dedicate 0.16% of the state’s portion of sales and use tax collections to fund these audits.
No. Though, to be honest, having not paid much attention to the pro- and con- arguments here, I based my vote on the local paper’s endorsements. While it was two-for-two, with the Seattle Times and the Seattle Weekly advising ‘yea’ against the Stranger and the Seattle P-I advising ‘nay’, I tend to trust the Stranger and the P-I a bit more.
I-901: Initiative Measure No. 901 concerns amending the Clean Indoor Air Act by expanding smoking prohibitions. This measure would prohibit smoking in buildings and vehicles open to the public and places of employment, including areas within 25 feet of doorways and ventilation openings unless a lesser distance is approved.
No. I would have voted “yes” on this one, were it not for the ridiculous (and greedy) 25-foot clause that got added on late in the game. It’s clumsy, ill-worded, and open to abuse in far too many ways for me to support it.
I-912: Initiative measure No. 912 concerns motor vehicle fuel taxes. This measure would repeal motor vehicle fuel tax increases of 3 cents in 2005 and 2006, 2 cents in 2007, and 1.5 cents per gallon in 2008, enacted in 2005 for transportation purposes.
No. The money currently being gathered by the “gas tax” is earmarked for fixing/replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct, fixing/replacing the Lake Washington floating bridge, and other major transportation projects that we need. Yank that money, and Seattle could far too easily face a catastrophic transportation situation in the event of a major earthquake, tsunami, or volcanic eruption — all events that are not just possible, but probable.
I-330: Initiative Measure No. 330 concerns claims for personal injury or death arising from healthcare services. This measure would change laws governing claims for negligent healthcare, including restricting noneconomic damages to $350,000 (with exception), shortening time limits for filing cases, limiting repayments to insurers and limiting claimants’ attorney fees.
No. Another one I hadn’t looked at much before looking at my ballot, but not only did all four local papers recommend a ‘nay’ vote, but the information in the voter’s pamphlet looked to me like the initiative did nothing but benefit the insurance companies to the detriment of everyone else. No thanks.
I-336: Initiative Measure No. 336 concerns medical malpractice, including insurance, healthcare provider licensing, and lawsuits. This measure would: require notices and hearings on insurance rate increases; establish a supplemental malpractice insurance program; require license revocation proceedings after three malpractice incidents; and limit numbers of expert witnesses in lawsuits.
Yes. Again, making my decision based on the voters pamphlet. Looks to me like this is more accountability and less ability to “hide” when things go wrong — a good thing generally, and especially when hospitals are concerned.
Senate Joint Resolution 8207: The legislature has proposed a constitutional amendment on qualifications for service on the commission on judicial conduct. This amendment would permit one member of the commission on judicial conduct to be selected by and from the judges of all courts of limited jurisdiction.
Approved. A minor wording change to ensure that judicial conduct trials are presided fairly. Nobody even bothered to write a statement against the resolution for the voters pamphlet.
King County
Proposition No. 1: Veterans and Human Services Levy: The King County Council has passed Ordinance 15279 concerning funding for regional health and human services. This proposition would fund services such as housing assistance, mental health counseling, substance abuse prevention and treatment, and employment assistance. It would also fund capital facilities and improvements to coordination of regional services for veterans and military personnel, and their families. It would authorize King County to levy an additional regular property tax of $0.05 (5 cents) per $1,000 of assessed valuation for collection in 2006 and levy the tax each year thereafter as allowed by chapter 84.55 RCW for the five succeeding years.
Approved. Sounds good to me, and again, no opposing statement was submitted for the voters pamphlet.
County Executive: Ron Sims (D), David Irons (R), or Gentry Lange (G).
Ron Sims.
Sheriff: Sue Rahr (NP), Greg Schmidt (NP).
Sue Rahr.
Council District No. 1: Bob Ferguson (D), Steven Pyeatt (R).
Bob Ferguson.
Judicial
Court of Appeals Division No. 1, District No. 1, Judge Postion No. 2: Susan Randolph Agid (NP).
Susan Randolph Agid.
Port of Seattle
Commissioner Position No. 1: John Creighton (NP), Lawrence Molloy (NP).
Lawrence Molloy.
Commissioner Position No. 3: Lloyd Hara (NP), Richard “Rich” Berkowitz (NP).
Lloyd Hara.
Commissioner Position No. 4: Patricia “Pat” Davis (NP), Jack Jolley (NP).
Jack Jolley.
##City of Seattle##
Mayor: Greg Nickels (NP), Al Runte (NP).
Greg Nickels.
City Attorney: Thomas A. Carr (NP).
Thomas A. Carr.
Council Position No. 2: Richard Conlin (NP), Paige Miller (NP).
Richard Conlin.
Council Position No. 4: Jan Drago (NP), Casey Corr (NP).
Jan Drago.
Council Position No. 6: Nick Licata (NP), Paul A. Bascomb (NP).
Nick Licata.
Council Position No. 8: Richard J. McIver (NP), Dwight Pelz (NP).
Dwight Pelz.
Advisory Measure No. 1: Health Care: Advisory ballot measure No. 1 concerns the right to health care. If approved, the measure would advise the mayor and city council that every person in the U.S. should have an equal right to quality health care, and that Congress should implement that right. The measure would advise the City to take steps to secure that right, including: requesting legislation, supporting education and advocacy, publishing a report on local health-care access, and convening an expert panel to advise the City and private employers on improving insurance coverage for Seattle residents.
No. Honestly, this one seems kind of silly to me — it doesn’t actually do anything. While I certainly don’t disagree that everyone should have quality, comprehensive health care, all this seems to want to do is make noise and propose more studies and campaigns, instead of any actual progress.
Seattle Popular Monorail Authority
Board Member Position No. 8: Beth Goldberg (NP), Cindi Laws (NP).
Cindi Laws.
Board Member Position No. 9: Jim Nobles (NP), Cleve Stockmeyer (NP).
Cleve Stockmeyer.
Proposition No. 1: Construction of Monorail by Modifying Plan: The Board of Directors of the Seattle Monorail Project adopted Resolution No. 05-36-A which concerns constructing a monorail by modifying the Seattle Popular Monorail Plan. This measure would modify the Plan to allow SMP to: initially build a monorail from Dravus (Interbay) to Alaska Junction (West Seattle); further modify the Plan’s route if necessary to obtain City consent for construction permits following City review of SMP’s finance plan; and, if possible, build the remainder of the 14-mile Green Line. If this proposition is enacted, SMP would be directed to build a monorail. If it is rejected, no new monorail would be built.
Yes. This is what, the fifth damn time the monorail’s been on the ballot? I’m tired of all the stupid fighting (most of which seems to come from the City of Seattle government)…quit whining, and build the damn thing.
Proposition No. 2: Change in Composition of the Board: The Board of the Seattle Monorail Project (“Board”) adopted Resolution No. 05-32 concerning a proposition to change the composition of the Board. This proposition will increase the number of elected Board members, resulting in a 5-4 majority of elected members, beginning in November 2007. It will also change the terms of all elected Board positions to four-year terms. Finally, it will stagger the elections of Board members.
Yes. Sounds reasonable, and all four local papers gave a ‘yea’ recommendation.
School District
Director District No. 4: Astrid Adair Gielen (NP), Michael DeBell (NP).
Michael DeBell.
Director District No. 5: Mary E. Bass (NP), Jane Fellner (NP).
Mary Bass.
Director District No. 7: Cheryl Chow (NP), Linda Thompson-Black (NP).
Linda Thompson-Black.
I wish Cali would add the 25 foot clause to the smoking law here. I love it that people can’t smoke in clubs, but I have to walk through a crowd of smokers to get in or out of the club and that part sucks. It’s still better than smoking in the club, but I’d like to be able to stay away from the smoke completely and when smokers congregate around the door, completely blocking anyone from getting in without first breathing their smoke, I wish cancer upon them.