To count, your ballot must be postmarked for Tuesday, Aug. 16th. Local Post Office locations include:

• SEAHURST: 2116 SW 152ND ST, BURIEN, WA 98166-2027; Open Mon-Fri: 9:00am-5:00pm
• BURIEN: 609 SW 150TH ST, BURIEN, WA 98166-9998; Open Mon-Fri: 8:30am-5:30pm
• RIVERTON HEIGHTS: 15250 32ND AVE S., SEATAC, WA 98188-9998; Open Mon-Fri: 8:30am-6:00pm
• DES MOINES: 2003 S 216TH ST., DES MOINES, WA 98198-9998; Open: Mon-Fri: 8:30am-6:00pm

Another option is to deposit it at a ballot drop box, the nearest of which is in Renton at the King County Elections office (919 SW Grady Way). For info on other drop box locations, click here.

The top two finishers in each race in this primary will advance to the Nov. 8th general election.

The Primary Election for the Burien area includes the following issues and races:

• King County Prop. #1 Veterans & Human Services Levy
• King County Council District #8 (read about our recent Candidates Forum here):
• Joe McDermott 
• Goodspaceguy 
• Diana Toledo
• Court of Appeals, Div. #1, District #1
• City of Burien Council Position #2 (read about our City Council Candidates Forum here):
• Greg Duff 
• Ed Dacy 
• Lucy Krakowiak
• City of Burien Council Position #4 (read about our City Council Candidates Forum here):
• Gordon M. Shaw 
• Joey Martinez 
• Bob Edgar (no longer in race but still on ballot)

For more information on the election, visit the King County Elections website here.

Here’s more of our extensive previous coverage of the candidates in this election:

• Nine Candidates Have Filed To Run For Three Burien City Council Positions
• POLITICS: Joey Martinez Throws His Hat Into Ring For Burien City Council
• POLITICS: Diana Holman Withdraws From Burien City Council Race
• Diana Toledo: Eliminate Arts & Culture, 4Culture; Put $ Into Public Schools
• Letter States That Bob Edgar Has Withdrawn From Burien Council Race
• Burien City Council Candidates Exchange Views At Lively B-Town Blog Forum
• King County Council District 8 Candidates Exchange Views at B-Town Blog Forum

Ballots for the Highline Public Schools educational programs levy are landing in local mailboxes this week, with a Feb. 8th return deadline.

The only “local” issue on the Feb. 8th Special Election, the levy makes up a quarter of Highline’s operating budget.

The new levy would replace one that expires this year.

Here’s the official ballot text from the King County Elections website (to download the entire ballot text as a PDF file, click here):

Proposition No. 1
Replacement of Expiring Educational Programs and Operation Levy

The Board of Directors of Highline School District No. 401 adopted Resolution No. 2444, concerning a proposition for a replacement levy for education. This proposition would authorize the District to meet the educational needs of students by levying the following excess taxes, in place of an expiring levy, on all taxable property within the District, for support of educational programs and operation expenses, including instruction, safety, materials and facility maintenance and operations:

Collection Year	Approximate Levy Rate/$1,000 Assessed Value	Levy Amount
2012	$3.44	$46,000,000
2013	$3.44	$46,000,000
2014	$3.44	$47,000,000
2015	$3.52	$49,000,000

all as provided in Resolution No. 2444. Should this proposition be approved?

YES

NO

The Highline Public School District did not provide an “Explanatory Statement” to the county for the ballot, but here’s a statement from supporters:

“Unless we pass the levy, local funding for schools will end” says Lois Schipper, president of Highline Citizens for Schools. “That would be a devastating blow to our schools and our whole community. Neighborhoods with good schools are safer, and property values stay strong.”

About 80 percent of the levy dollars pay for teachers and other staff positions, according to the school district. The levy funds about 250 staff positions.

“The levy covers basics that the state doesn’t fully fund. In addition to personnel, it funds things like textbooks, bus transportation, and maintaining facilities,” says district spokesperson Catherine Carbone Rogers.

If the levy fails staff lay-offs could not be avoided, says Carbone Rogers. The district would be forced to eliminate courses and consider shortening the school day. Athletic programs and other “extras” would be on the chopping block.

“Levy failure will mean lost jobs, students receiving only the most basic education, larger class sizes, and much more,” says Highline School Board Member Michael Spear. “To ensure the continuing success of our students this Levy is critical.”

State funding reductions have forced Highline to cut $14.5 million from its operating expenses over the past 3 years. The district anticipates additional mid-year cuts of up to $2.1 million this year. State cuts of about $7 million are expected next year.

“Our schools simply can’t sustain cuts of that level without the levy,” says Schipper. “Our children will not get the education they need to compete for jobs.”

While the new levy replaces an expiring tax, there will be a slight increase in the levy amount to help cushion the impact of state cuts. The average Highline homeowner with a home valued at about $300,000 would pay about $14 more per month.

“That’s not a lot to pay for a good education and a healthy community,” says Schipper.

We couldn’t find any “opposition” website to this measure, but there is a Facebook Page for a supporter’s group called “Highline Citizens for Schools” here.

So…how will YOU vote? Please take our Poll below, or leave a Comment…

Susan Mahoney

by Jack Mayne

Judith Eiler, the judge who was recently suspended for five days by the state Supreme Court for “rude, impatient and undignified treatment” of people before her in court has been voted off the bench by voters in the Burien area.

The winner is the current assistant city attorney for Des Moines, Susan Mahoney.

The loser, who picked up the “Judge Judy” moniker, after a harsh television judge, will leave the court in January and be replaced by Mahoney.

“I thought if anything it would be close but it has not been close at all,” she said in a telephone interview with The B-Town Blog. “The doorbelling paid off. I am just so grateful. It is just great that the people paid attention and I am humbled and honored and wouldn’t have gotten this far without that support.”

With less than 39 percent of the vote counted on Wednesday afternoon, Mahoney had 25,815 votes (69.82 percent) to Judge Eiler’s 10,965 (29.65 percent).

The League of Women Voters of King County South is hosting a Ballot Issues meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 13th from 6:30pm – 9pm at the Burien Library, 1st floor conference room.

Speakers will offer pros and cons for Initiatives 1053, 1098, 1100,1105, 1107 and King County Prop 1.

Here are the details:

WHAT: League of Women Voters Ballot Issues meeting.

WHEN: Wednesday, Oct. 13th from 6:30pm – 9pm

WHERE: Main Burien Library, located at 400 SW 152nd Street (206-243-3490).

INFO: The AAUW of Renton is co-sponsoring the event.

Refreshments will be served.

It will be a good chance to ask questions and become informed.

On Monday (July 19), the King County Council announced that it had approved placing a proposal on the November ballot to increase the sales and use tax in King County, with revenue going predominately to public safety services.

According to a release, if approved by voters on Nov. 2nd the increase would generate around $59 million in revenue for King County in 2011 and $80 million in 2012, the first full year the levy would be collected. Under the proposal, the County’s portion of the proceeds would be used solely for public safety programs ranging from the Sheriff and Prosecutor’s Office to Public Defense and Jail Health Services.

In addition, 40 percent of the tax proceeds would go to the 39 cities within King County based on their population. This would mean that approximately $24 million would go to city governments with the County. State law requires that cities must spend one-third of the proceeds on criminal justice services.

The sales tax increase would remain in effect for a maximum of three years.

Along with an increase in the sales tax, the measure would use a portion of the County’s unincorporated area levy—$9.5 million in 2011—to fund police services in the County’s unincorporated communities.

The adopted ordinance now goes to the voters on Nov. 2nd as part of the general election ballot.

Here’s the full press release:

County Council places sales tax ballot measure on November ballot

Proposal to raise $80 million in revenue sent to general election ballot

Facing a projected $60 million budget deficit, the Metropolitan King County Council today approved sending to the voters in November a proposal to raise the sales and use tax in King County by two-tenths of one percent. The revenue raised by the ballot measure would go predominately to public safety services.

“It’s important to remember that the Council did not raise taxes today,” said Councilmember Julia Patterson, Chair of the Budget and Fiscal Management Committee. “We’re giving voters the chance to tell us if they support public safety services provided by King County and every other city in the County.”

“Keeping the public safe is an essential County function,” said Council Chair Bob Ferguson. “Voters deserve the opportunity to decide whether critical criminal justice services should be preserved.”

“A sales tax increase is absolutely necessary to save vital services such as sheriffs, prosecutors and programs that serve to lower our jail costs,” said Councilmember Larry Gossett. “What is at stake is the quality of life that we treasure so much in our county.  This is the reason we are asking King County voters to support this crucial measure at the polls this November.”

“With public safety being the paramount concern of people in King County, voters must have a chance to weigh in about whether to cut $60 million in criminal justice services or preserve them with temporary higher taxes,” said Councilmember Larry Phillips. “Knowing the difficult choice this will be for voters struggling through this Great Recession, I worked to lower the tax burden and add accountability to the proposal by including a three-year sunset provision.”

“The Council’s decision today is all about giving voters a choice,” said Councilmember Jan Drago. “Cutting $60 million from the budget will touch every part of county government, and that’s just too big a number and too big of a decision to make without the public’s input. We need to know what people are willing to pay for or willing to give up in these tough economic times.”

If approved by voters, the increase would generate approximately $59 million in revenue for King County in 2011 and $80 million in 2012, the first full year the levy would be collected. Under the proposal, the County’s portion of the proceeds would be used solely for public safety programs ranging from the Sheriff and Prosecutor’s Office to Public Defense and Jail Health Services.

In addition, 40 percent of the tax proceeds would go to the 39 cities within King County based on their population. This would mean that approximately $24 million would go to city governments with the County. State law requires that cities must spend one-third of the proceeds on criminal justice services.

The sales tax increase would remain in effect for a maximum of three years.

Along with an increase in the sales tax, the measure would use a portion of the County’s unincorporated area levy—$9.5 million in 2011—to fund police services in the County’s unincorporated communities.

The adopted ordinance now goes to the voters on November 2 as part of the general election ballot.

If you haven’t yet mailed your ballot in, since today (Tuesday, Nov. 3rd) is election day, King County has drop boxes throughout the county that provide voters with a way to securely return ballots without the cost of postage.

These drop boxes are open 24 hours a day, and will close at 8pm tonight (Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3rd).

Of course, you can also just make sure your ballot is postmarked Nov. 3rd by going to the post office before it closes, but that’ll cost you 42 cents; plus, ya never know if your ballot will be lost…

Here’s more info on the ballot drop boxes from King County Elections:

How do I use a ballot drop box?
Carefully follow the instructions on the ballot envelope. Place the ballot in the security envelope, seal all envelopes, sign the outer envelope, and deposit your ballot packet into the box.

How do I know my ballot is secure?
Ballots are collected regularly from each drop box by King County Elections. Two official elections workers will use a chain of custody process to transport all ballots.

Ballot packets are delivered to the Elections facility where they are processed with other returned mail ballots. The signature on every ballot is checked against the voter’s registration file and if it matches, the ballot moves forward.

Here’s the list of nearby drop-off boxes (more are listed at the King County Elections website):

• White Center Library: 11220 16th S.W., Seattle, 98146
• Tukwila, King County Elections Headquarters: 9010 East Marginal Way S, 98108
• Des Moines Library: 21620 11th Avenue S., 98198
• Federal Way Library: 848 S 320th St, 98003
• Delridge: 5405 Delridge Way SW, 98106

If you’ve mailed your ballot in and want to check on its progress, you can do so online by clicking here and following instructions.

[Original Artwork by Danielle Burton.]

Sherril Huff, current King County Elections Director, holds a more than 2-to-1 lead over former King County Councilman David Irons in the vote for Elections Director, which was held Tuesday.

This special election was held after voters decided last November to choose an Elections Director, who previously had been appointed directly by King County Executive Ron Sims.

As of late this afternoon, Huff had 96,035 votes, or 45 percent of the total, while Irons had 40,884 votes for 19 percent.

And get this – this job pays $146,000 per year.

Not a bad gig during this economy, huh?

More info at The Seattle Times.