By Jim McCune Every 10 years, a new Charter Review Commission is elected to make proposed amendments to the Pierce County Charter, to be voted upon by the citizens of Pierce County. The proposed charter amendments will be placed on the 2016 November general election ballot. I always believed the commission should be comprised of everyday citizens who are engaged in their government's policies or communities, with a desire to be more involved GÇô not high profile, wealthy, former and current officials. Seeing candidates who were past Pierce County Council members, current state representatives, mayors, a former Tacoma City Council member/county executive/prosecuting attorney and married to a sitting County Council member, and several others with access to ample financial resources, I felt compelled to enter the race for purposes of balancing the political views during discussions. While state law does allow sitting elected officials and county employees to be a precinct committee officer and a member of the Charter Review Commission, I contacted the county auditor's office to withdraw due to current commitments and what might be a perceived conflict of interest GÇô not because of any lies, accusations and vitriol spewed from others who have always been clear about their disdain for me personally. That's old news. This commission should be an opportunity for folks who are looking to be civicly involved, desiring to apply their wisdom and experiences in this short-term commitment. I wish them all a rewarding experience.
Jim McCune is a Pierce County Councilman from the Third District, which includes Graham, Eatonville and other communities in the county's south end.
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment