FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 12, 2009

Contact:    Saul Ettlin
                 Director
                 206-622-8333

Municipal League Releases Candidate Ratings
for King County Elections Director

SEATTLE – The Municipal League of King County today announced its ratings of the six candidates for King County Elections Director to be selected by special election on February 3:

Bill Anderson – Very Good
Chris Clifford – Adequate
Sherril Huff – Outstanding
David Irons – Outstanding
Julie Kempf – Adequate
Pam Roach – Adequate

The nonpartisan ratings are based on four criteria: Knowledge, Involvement, Effectiveness and Character.  The ratings assess each candidate's potential to be effective in office and ability to serve the community.  They don't consider political affiliations or stands on specific issues.  Candidates also aren't rated against each other.

"The League's rating process is similar to a job interview for candidates," said Brad Meacham, Municipal League Chair.  "Given the managerial requirements of the Elections Director position, these ratings are especially useful."

The ratings are the result of the work of citizens from around King County who volunteered for a special Candidate Evaluation Committee over the last month.  The committee recognized that the Elections Director position requires strong management, technical and leadership skills.  Committee members were trained about the requirements of the position and then studied the public record, reviewed candidate questionnaires, checked references and conducted live interviews with the candidates. Each rating was carefully reviewed and confirmed by the Municipal League's trustees.

Volunteers in the rating process are required to refrain from active involvement in campaigns or political parties during this election season. The Municipal League's trustees must step aside from the ratings process whenever they have connections to any candidate in any particular race.

Candidates received one of six ratings: Outstanding, Very Good, Good, Adequate, Not Qualified, or No Active Campaign. The Municipal League was able to contact and review every candidate.

To view candidate questionnaires and more detailed information about the rating process, see www.munileague.org.

About the Municipal League ratings

Complete definitions of the ratings are available at www.munileague.org. Here are abbreviated descriptions of each rating:

Outstanding – Has made numerous outstanding contributions requiring skills related to the office, is a path-finding and respected leader, and brings knowledge and creativity to issues facing the office.

Very Good – Makes significant contributions, is a skilled builder of consensus, inspires confidence in the way he/she would serve, is thorough and attentive to issues.

Good – Has been active and effective in many roles, is capable of moving people to productive action, has strong record of participation in problem solving, shows satisfactory commitment to tackling issues.

Adequate – Has a record of participation and interest, is effective on specific issues, has provoked questions about suitability as an office holder, will need significant time/energy to fill gaps in knowledge.

Not Qualified – Doesn't appear engaged, has a record that casts doubt on ability to be productive, hasn't demonstrated ability to deal with responsibilities of office, has narrow focus, inflexible attitude or is otherwise troubling.

About the Municipal League

The Municipal League of King County is a nonpartisan volunteer organization that has worked to ensure good government that is open, effective and accountable since 1910. The Municipal League is dedicated to improving the caliber of public officials and the quality of public decisions. For more information see www.munileague.org.

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Click here to see the candidate ratings and questionnaire

Click here for a PDF version of the release.