Your chance to change the Skagit

You can both imagine and make real this possibility: your influence deciding the shape of a new governing constitution for Skagit County. First you must pass the referendum calling to develop a charter. The 21 delegates, termed freeholders by the state’s19th century constitution, will then draft a charter framing a 21st century governance structure. We are much closer to the action than our 18th century ancestors were when our federal Constitution was created. Almost all of us would not have been eligible to vote.

Today all of us have a vote. Our participation, questioning freeholder candidates and advocating for every manner of governing possibility, can have huge implications. We can create democratic norms and shape and defend the preservation of natural resources – or allow development.

Here is an example of a future-shaping decision: how many county councilors to have and how to choose them?

What about nine? We are headed for a county population of 150,000. Nine is one representative for about 17,000 people.

How to distribute them? With districts, Anacortes, Burlington and Sedro-Woolley each get one and Mount Vernon gets two. The rest of the county is carved around these cities. How to allocate compact, regularly shaped districts to ensure diverse representation?

That’s a headache.

Here’s an option, a radical idea that very conservatively insures rural representation: No districts. Instead, create at large voting using proportional representation. This system elects representatives when each gains a proportionate share of first place votes. Voters choose first, second and down to the end of the list of candidates.

This is used by 28 countries ranging from Austria to Switzerland, including Russia.

Seats are distributed proportionally to the popular vote. A representative council will be created that reflects the varied opinions and view throughout the county.

We vote for all candidates, ranking them. Here, 17,000 first place votes win, no matter where you live or where the votes come from. Three rural-championing candidates getting 51,000 first place votes will win three seats.

A proportional representation voting system will be a first in Washington and almost unique nationally, putting Skagit County on the map as a forward thinking, voice of all citizens heard, government. But most importantly, it insures representation: of farmers, Hispanics, liberals and conservatives. It rewards citizens for fully participating with elected representation of candidates advocating the electorate’s primary interests.

While this is a very good idea, it is also a great example of how discussion of developing charter government for Skagit County is waiting your involvement.

There are two sets of votes to cast: one develops a charter; your second seven elect delegates from Ron Wesen’s county commissioner district to work for you, if voters approve developing a charter.

It is now eight weeks to election day. Only seven people in our district will be freeholders. Yet all of us can be shaping the discussion of our county’s government’s future, but only if we speak up.

This might truly be a once in a life time opportunity. Each of us can have our say. The Yes! on Charter campaign is sponsoring forums. The 28 candidates for the seven District 1 positions want your votes. Before you vote for anything or anyone, decide what is on your mind and share it.