In case you don’t recognize her name, it’s Sherril Huff who is running the King County Elections Division. Her charge? Make sure elections are run fairly and mistake-free.
Now she’s running another election – her own – to keep her job. It’s an election that she should win.
Much is at stake, including the implementation of reforms to ensure the county’s elections are no longer an embarrassment.
Huff has been at the forefront of those reforms, working quietly, with no other motive than to run a fair election. She was even a reluctant candidate for her job. We’re glad she decided otherwise.
Our concern is that name recognition will work against her.
Who hasn’t heard of state Sen. Pam Roach of Auburn? Or Chris Clifford of Renton? They are in the six-person field in the first-ever election for the county’s elections director. The election is entirely by mail and ballots must be postmarked no later than Feb. 3.
Until now, the director was appointed by the county executive.
But mere name recognition doesn’t make a good elections director. Both were rated “adequate” for the job by the Municipal League of King County.
And just because a politician has run a personal campaign doesn’t mean he or she has the managerial skills to run a countywide election. Politicians talk policy; they leave the managing to someone else.
Still, if you feel that a politician has to run the Elections Division, then elect David Irons, a former County Council member with management experience. Like Huff, he was rated outstanding by the Municipal League.
The elections position is non-partisan, but Irons has always run as a Republican and his chief campaigner seems to be Republican state Attorney General Rob McKenna, of Bellevue, who made computerized phone calls over the weekend for Irons. McKenna also served on the County Council.
However, if you feel an elections professional has to run the Elections Division, then elect Huff. This job is really about managing people and keeping those onboard who have worked tirelessly in service to the ideal of a fair election. It’s about knowing how to run an intricate process using paper and computers and is sometimes prone to human mistakes.
The task for the Elections Division has been defined. Now is the time to build upon the reforms that thoughtful citizens of King County have put together. Sherril Huff can help lead the way.
