What a surprise to have Potter forced to withdraw from her bid for city council. I was looking forward to having some choices on the ballot. I heard a rumor that the mayor has the power to overide the residency requirement for a certain percent of council positions. Anyone know anything about this as I can’t find it in the code? Our lack of candidates is a strong indication of a problem in Orting. Why do people feel they can’t make a difference so why bother trying? Openess and questions should be encouraged as healthy, not squashed at every opportunity. I would personally really like to see that openess begin with the mayor, acting fire chief, police chief, school superintendent and other community leaders sending in community updates to appear in Orting News as they used to do in The Gazette. Is there something to hide? The lack of communiciation in the local news source certainly gives that impression.
Related story http://www.ortingnews.com/article/community/803/
6 responses so far ↓
Phil Russell // July 19, 2009 at 11:42 am
RCW 35A is OPTIONAL Municipal Codes. RCW 35A.01.010, Purpose and policy of this title — Interpretation states, “All grants of municipal power to municipalities electing to be governed under the provisions of this title, whether the grant is in specific terms or in general terms, shall be liberally construed in favor of the municipality.” If a town has the ability to liberally construe the statutes, then the one year residency requirement can be waived.
Furthermore, RCW 35.27.080, Eligibility to hold elective office, states: “No person shall be eligible to or hold an elective office in a town unless he or she is a resident and registered voter in the town.”
Orting Voter // July 19, 2009 at 4:53 pm
Mr. Russell-thank you for sharing that. Would your interpretation then be that as long as Potter is a registered voter and resident at this time, the city of Orting has the power to waive the one year residency requirement and allow Potter to stay in the race? It appears that Temple, Bethune and the attorney are chosing to not ‘liberally construe’ the law and instead making it a non contested election with only Drennen running for position 7. If it weren’t for the mayor’s race, I doubt if I’d even vote. I don’t know if I’d vote for Potter or Drennen at this point, but I’d sure like the city leaders to allow Potter to stay in the running.
Mike Hunt // July 21, 2009 at 2:50 am
Orting’s next Council Member – TYLER COUGHLIN – click on link to watch video.
(Editors note – R rated for adult language – When contacted by Orting News, Orting City Council, uncontested candidate confirmed that this video is him when he was younger, produced by himself and 2 cousins)
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.channel&ChannelID=99664435
Phil Russell // July 21, 2009 at 10:00 am
Well, we’ll have at least one council member with some rhythm. Not sure why someone would send this in to the paper, but I’m guessing it was meant to somehow discredit Mr. Coughlin (or take the focus off the Mayor’s and City Manager’s comments). If we are going to hold each council member accountable for every stupid or crazy thing they have done in life… then I feel for the oldest members of the council. What’s next, the headline, “Council Member Admits to Eating Paste in Pre-School”?
Mike Hunt // July 21, 2009 at 11:33 pm
Paste? Please refer to this website:
http://dw.courts.wa.gov/?fa=home.namesearchTerms
Orting Mom // July 22, 2009 at 2:34 pm
What do you want me to get from this web site? I typed in several name and found a lady who has the same name as my sister who is being charged with child rape. I can pay yo get the court documents. I assume you want me to pay to find out Mr. Coughlin’s past. I feel like I am dealing with my kids. They want to be a tattle tail but don’t want to be in trouble. So if you want to fling mud on the other guy. Fling. Don’t sit there threating to.
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