Now that we have successfully completed our petition gathering efforts, the next part of the Home Rule Charter process begins. This November, the voters of Skagit County will be presented with two ballot measures pertaining to reshaping County government. First, they will be asked if we should elect Freeholders to continue the discussion (yes or no question). They will also be asked to vote for Freeholders (a total of 21 from throughout Skagit County).

- Skye Richendrfer

Skagit County Home Rule Charter Web Site

For additional information on Home Rule form of government, there are several articles at www.mrsc.org and at the Skagit Valley Herald:

Skagit Valley Herald Editorial: Does current form of county government fit today's reality?

MV mayor: It's time for charter government.

Twenty-five people gathered in the Guemes Island Community Hall Friday evening, May 23rd, for Mount Vernon Mayor Skye Richendrfer’s presentation explaining the Home Rule form of county government, and the process for changing to Home Rule.

The present form of government in Skagit County has several shortcomings. The three county commissioners have both executive and legislative power. And while the commissioners are elected in the primary election from one of three districts in Skagit County, in the general election that follows, the entire county elects them. With both legislative and executive power vested in the same body, an important system of checks and balances is lost. And since the whole county elects all three commissioners, they owe allegiance to no district once they have been elected. In addition our present form of county government has no provision for referendum, initiative, or recall.

To establish Home Rule, a Board of Freeholders is elected to write a charter customized to meet the unique needs of the county. Then the voters have the opportunity to either accept or reject the new charter in an election. The Board of Freeholders usually write the charter after a series of meetings for public input, research into the needs of their county, and into the charters of other counties with Home Rule. While only a small number of counties have Home Rule in Washington, King, Snohomish, Pierce and Whatcomb Counties have it. Most charters provide for a body of part-time, elected commissioners, each representing a district within the county, who act as the legislative body, and a county executive who is either elected or appointed. And all of the charters have a provision for initiative, referendum, and recall.

The mayor’s PowerPoint presentation was followed by a lively question and answer period. And at the close of the meeting, everyone was invited to sign the petition that would allow for the election of a Board of Freeholders in November, the first step in the process of the change to Home Rule.

Copies of this petition can be found posted in the Ferry waiting room and at Anderson General Store.

Gail Moore Nicolls

Mt. Vernon Mayor Skye Richendrfer has begun a movement to allow citizen restructuring of Skagit County government.

So just what is a Home Rule Charter?

A Home Rule Charter process allows citizens the opportunity to determine how to structure their county government.

Choices can be made about which offices are elected or appointed, and which offices are partisan or nonpartisan (except Attorney and Superior Court Judges which are mandated by State Law to be elected).

Provides the option for the power of Initiative and Referendum.

Charter could separate Legislative and Executive functions.

Charter could propose a different commission structure than what currently exists.

No one person gets to decide anything.

What is the process?

A Home Rule Charter is initiated by petition

Petition must be signed by registered voters equal to 10% of those who voted in the last general election

For Skagit County, that would be 3,368 valid petition signatures

Petition must be filed with the County Auditor three months before the general election

To be in the 2003 General Election on November 4, 2003, the petition would be submitted to the Auditor by August 4, 2003

Volunteer Freeholders would be elected

Any number of Freeholders from 15 to 25 could be elected

The Freeholders would draft a County Charter designed specifically for Skagit County

Process to define the County Charter would include many public meetings, surveys and research of other Charter Counties

Charter would be adapted specifically to Skagit County’s unique needs Draft

Charter presented to voters

If accepted, special elections would be called within six months to fill vacant positions

If defeated, we would be right where we are today

Other important considerations

No one person gets to decide anything! This is carefully designed to insure input from citizens residing in all parts of the County - rural and urban.

Since this procedure takes time, it is important to get started

Public input is vital

The Whys of Home Rule Charter

For additional information on Home Rule form of government including examples of neighboring County Charters, visit Municipal Research Service Corporation at www.mrsc.org.

From the Skagit Valley Herald:

Charter movement gathering steam

MV mayor: It's time for charter government.

Commissioners to Richendrfer: Why change?

Charter backers ready to organize

Contact Skye Richendrfer with additional questions.

In 1990, Skagit County’s population was 79,545

48% of the population lived in the rural unincorporated county

52% lived in incorporated areas (cities)

In 2000, Skagit County’s population was just about 103,000

43% of the population lived in the rural unincorporated county

57% lived in incorporated areas (cities)