Strong mayor measure won't be on ballot in Port Townsend
By Erik Hidle, Peninsula Daily News
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Since early May, Sheehan — owner of Dogs-A-Foot, a hot-dog stand across Madison Street from Port Townsend City Hall — has sought registered voter signatures on his petition to force a vote on changing from a city manager-council form of government to a strong mayor form.
This week, he declared the movement to be dead — at least for the Nov. 4 general election.
"I didn't get enough signatures in time for the November ballot," Sheehan said.
"I was about 50 signatures short."
Sheehan said he had close to 350 of the required 395 signatures – the required 10 percent of the city's registered voters.
"I could have got them, too," he said.
"But I'm working 80 hours a week, and I just didn't have the time to go out and canvas."
The deadline for putting a measure on the November ballot is Tuesday.
So, Sheehan had already missed his deadline, said Karen Cartmel, Jefferson County's elections coordinator, saying he should have delivered it to the county auditor's office in July.
"That petition would have needed to be submitted much earlier for time to get it certified, to be submitted to City Council to put it on their agenda, for City Council to pass a resolution, and then to bring it back and call for an election by the deadline," Cartmel said.
"It definitely will not be on the ballot."
Second try
This was Sheehan's second attempt to have an election called on keeping Port Townsend's existing council-manager form of government or reverting to the mayor-council form it once had.
In 2007, Sheehan collected enough signatures before the deadline to call for an election, but it was found that many who signed the petition either did not live within the city limit or had signed the petition multiple times.
In the end, the petition was not approved, and the city did not vote on the issue of placing the question on the ballot.
The current council-manager form of government has been in place since voters approved it in 1998.
In the present method, the City Council hires a city manager to run the city, while the council formulates and adopts city policy, and directs staff in implementing those policies.
Sheehan, a 35-year resident of Port Townsend, contends that this is too expensive, and that Port Townsend doesn't need a manager.
He prefers a mayor-council form of government, in which an elected mayor serves as the city's chief administrative officer, and a elected council is the city's legislative body.
While the council has the power to formulate and adopt city policies, the mayor is responsible for carrying them out.
The mayor presides over council meetings, but does not vote on council business, except in the case of a tie.
Sheehan said he takes responsibility for voters not having the chance for change this year.
"I concede the failure rests on my shoulders," he said.
"My gut feeling is that, by next winter, a lot of people will be looking for change as this recession begins to kick some serious butt."
Sheehan said he might return with his petition next year.
"I may well do it next year," he said.
"I just might find more time next time."
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Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.
Last modified: August 06. 2008 9:00PM