2006 Seattle Elections

General Elections Voters' Guide

Chrtr Am 8-Council Reconfirmation of 3 Dept Heads - Statement For And Rebuttal

Statement For Charter Amendment No. 8

This charter amendment provides consistency among department heads by subjecting the Director of Finance, the Superintendent of Parks, and the Personnel Director to reappointment and reconfirmation every four years. The heads of the Department of Neighborhoods, City Light, the Department of Planning and Development, Seattle Public Utilities and the Department of Transportation already undergo this process of public performance evaluation.

The arguments that recruitment will be more difficult if people can be fired after only four years, or that there will be confusion as to whom they report, are specious. Five department heads are already subject to reconfirmation. There has been no shortage of extremely well-qualified candidates nor of incumbents in these positions. Professionals frequently report to more than “one boss.” For example, an architect must satisfy the needs of a client while meeting demands from his firm’s principals, etc. If department heads do their jobs, reconfirmation is not be an obstacle to continuing.

The amendment balances City government between the Executive and the Legislative branches. The Legislative branch-City Councilis more responsive to voters than the Executive-every two years, half of that body has to face the voters!

This amendment effectively adds public accountability to the job description of the three department heads affected. Currently these individuals report only to the Mayor. The amendment provides City Council and the public an opportunity to review the department head’s accomplishments, visions, goals, priorities, challenges and decision-making approach. City Council needs to be able to address situations in which the mayor may seek to retain a department head who has not performed satisfactorily. Such was the case with the Superintendent of City Light a few years ago.

By requiring a public reappointment process, these department heads will be more responsive to the community, the citizens, and the voters. It is a good-government measure that will promote citizen confidence in the operations of our city. Twenty-two citizen and community groups around the city support this amendment.

STATEMENT SUBMITTED BY: Gail Chiarello, Progressive Democratic Caucuses of Washington 46th District (PDCW46), P. O. Box 51164, Seattle, WA 98115. E-mail gailchiarello@comcast.net

Rebuttal of Statement For

None submitted.