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Hinkle wants to change
process for electing judges, education chief
Rep.
Bill Hinkle, R-Cle Elum, began focusing on election reform even
before the recent governor’s race and recounts. After considering the
idea over the summer and fall, he introduced legislation on the first
day of the 2005 session to change the way Washingtonians elect judges
and the superintendent of public instruction. Those measures, House Bill
1001 and House Joint Resolution 4200, were the subject of a public
hearing today.
“Candidates running for positions in any of our branches of government
should be elected the same way, using the same method,” Hinkle said.
“The changes I’m proposing would bring more uniformity to our election
process and ensure fairness and even treatment across the board. It
would also give the public more time to examine the views of candidates
who would very directly impact our lives.”
Today, as a result of an initiative recently adopted by Washington
voters, the top two voter-getters in legislative and executive branch
races move from the primary onto the general election ballot. Even if
just one candidate is running for a particular office – and even if that
person gets more than 50 percent of the vote in the primary election –
his or her name must still be on the general election ballot.
But judicial and school chief races are different. Candidates running
for the court of appeals, district court or superintendent of public
instruction (SPI) are not subject to the “top two” provision. Rather, if
one of these candidates in a primary election gets at least 50 percent
of the vote, only that candidate’s name goes onto the November ballot.
State superior court races are even more lax. Anyone running for a
superior court judgeship that gets a majority vote in a primary election
is automatically certified as the winner – without even going onto the
general election ballot.
Under Hinkle’s proposed changes, all judicial and SPI primary races with
two or more names on the ballot would ensure the top two vote-getters
move on to the general election. No candidate would be able to “win” in
the primary – regardless of the percentage of vote they receive – and be
relieved from appearing on the November ballot.
Hinkle pointed out in a hearing before the House State Government
Committee today that ensuring candidates for these nonpartisan races are
on the general election ballot would make sure all three branches of the
“three legged stool” of government are equal in length.
“In my view, judges and our school chief deserve no less of a mandate
than those elected to the legislative or executive branch of our
government,” said Hinkle. “Especially nowadays, as judges and our school
chief play an ever-bigger role in our society, it’s important that all
citizens have a stake in their election.”
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For more information, contact:
John Handy, Assistant
Communications Director - (360) 786-5758
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