Signatures for fall county charter vote submitted by Home Rule Skagit

Supporters of Home Rule Skagit brought 3,333 petition signatures to the Skagit County’s Elections Office Friday calling for a November vote on creating a charter to update Skagit County’s form of government. Once 2,800 signatures are certified, this fall’s ballot will ask the voters whether, for the first time in the County’s 135-year history, the people who live here should form their county government.

The charter is like a constitution for the county. The measure will list the names of citizens volunteering to be freeholders, or delegates. Twenty-one freeholders will be elected. If the measure is approved, then these freeholders will draft a charter for voters’ consideration, probably in November 2019.

Their press release calls this “grass roots democracy at its best.” Gathering these signatures involved the volunteer effort of many people across the county. It was an opportunity to talk with thousands of our fellow citizens about county government and the path our state constitution provides for updating it.

Our efforts are strengthened knowing that the community has shown such strong support for this petition and that this support is coming from a wide range of people.

Home Rule Skagit is a group of nonpartisan county residents seeking to update county government as provided by the Washington State Constitution. The charter process is the only way that county government can be updated.

Skagit County’s Election Department will validate the signatures by the end of this week. If enough signatures are deemed valid, then the County Commissioners will issue a resolution that will call for the election and specify the procedures for the election. This is expected to happen on or near August 16th.

Kathleen Kuba, Home Rule Skagit Steering Committee member states, “Our efforts to get the charter on the ballot have brought us into conversation with thousands of people in the community who would like to see this change happen.”

Home Rule Skagit is planning many educational opportunities between now and Election Day for citizens to learn about the charter process and the exciting potential for improving county government.

More information: Kathleen Kuba, kkuba@kubaco.com.