In this file photo, Alicia Bull, executive director of the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber, Todd Chaput, Chamber president, and Coralee Taylor, head of the government action committee, discuss the Chamber's campaign that looks to restructure the county's government through a home rule charter.
A vote to elect freeholders as part of the home rule charter process being pursued by the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce likely won’t occur as early as planned, but the group still plans to start the process of collecting signatures.
One Lewis County, the Chamber-organized group pursuing the plan, was informed this week by the county elections department the measure can only be placed on a general election ballot unless Lewis County commissioners issue a resolution to place the measure on the ballot sooner.
Previously, the group planned to bring the matter before voters on a February special election ballot.
The process will move forward despite the “hiccup,” said Alicia Bull, executive director of the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce, noting the outpouring of support the group has received since announcing last week that it would collect signatures to begin the process that would allow freeholders to meet and propose a plan for restructuring county government’s leadership structure.
One Lewis County’s proposal calls for five commissioners — there are currently three — who would direct a professional manager. Commissioners would be paid $1,000 a month plus benefits. Commissioners currently make about $100,000 in salaries and benefits each, and the Chamber claims its proposal would save the county about $165,000.
The delay doesn’t slow the momentum of One Lewis County, Bull said.
“It’s not if this happens, it’s when,” Bull said on Wednesday.
Since the filing deadline for this November’s general election has passed, it will have to wait until the November election in 2018.
The group will still begin collecting the required number of signatures to place the measure on the ballot. Ten percent of the voters in the last general election are required to sign the petition to validate the measure. Originally the Chamber estimated it would take 2,500 signatures, but since the most recent general election was a presidential race, it resulted in a higher voter turnout. Now, 4,500 valid signatures are needed, Bull said.
The signed petitions will be turned into the elections office as soon as the signatures are collected, Bull said.
“The constitution states these must be submitted at least three months prior to the general election,” Heather Boyer, elections supervisor, said in an email provided to The Chronicle. “As long as you turn in the minimum number of signatures, the earliest this could appear on a ballot would be the November 2018 general election.”
If approved, the freeholders would have 180 days to draft a charter that would be presented to the voters.
If the petitions are returned early enough, the elections department will be able to advertise and open the filing period for the freeholders during the normal candidate filing week of May 14-18.
The commissioners will then need to determine the apportionment of freeholders. The Chamber has recommended 15 freeholders, five for each existing commissioner district.
Not only is One Lewis County learning throughout the process, but so is the elections department.
“Since this is the first time a charter county has been proposed in Lewis County, the process is also new to us,” Boyer said in the email. “We will do our utmost to ensure that we are following all of the laws pertaining to charter county elections. It is essential that we remain in communication so that we know what to expect from you and you know what to expect from us. Regardless of the outcome, we want this process to be done correctly.”
One Lewis County cites poor financial management, lawsuits and a lack of leadership in county government as reasons for pursuing the home rule charter.
A task force appointed by the commissioners analyzed county government over the past several months and in July recommended the hiring of a county manager. The panel chose against recommending the pursuit of a home rule charter based on their collection of interviews and evidence.
More information is available at www.onelewiscounty.com.
