King County Elections has issued a certificate of sufficiency certifying that the petition requesting a change in SeaTac's form of government contained enough valid signatures.
The SeaTac City Council is expected to place the measure on the November election ballot on Nov. 26 as "Proposition #1.
Here is our previous coverage:
It appears likely SeaTac residents will once again vote on allowing the citywide election of a mayor.
Earl Gipson, of SeaTac Citizens for Elected Mayor, reports he turned in 624 petition signatures June 14 to City Clerk Kristina Gregg in favor of a resolution to change the city's form of government. Only 446 signatures are required in order to place a proposition on the November ballot. The signatures are being verified.
A similar resolution failed by only 9 votes in a November 2009 election. Proponents contended that King County Elections did not count all eligible ballots. They said they helped submit valid signature cards for approximately 25 voters whose signatures had been challenged by Elections staff but the votes were not added to the totals.
"The majority of those were for the proposition," Deputy Mayor Gene Fisher declared at a July 2010 council meeting. "So I already know that the majority of citizens approved it."
The proposition would eliminate the current city manager/council form of government in favor of an elected mayor system.
Currently, the council hires a city manager to run the day-to-day operations of the city, including supervising staff. Council members elect one of their own to serve as mayor. The mayor's chief duties are presiding over council meetings and representing the city at ceremonial functions.
Under the proposed plan, the mayor would be elected by voters and act as chief executive of the city. The mayor could hire a professional city administrator to work with staff.
Tukwila has an elected mayor while Burien, Normandy Park and Des Moines use SeaTac's current system.
Similar propositions had failed twice before the November 2009 vote.