To: Seattle City Council
From: Lucy Gaskill-Gaddis, Action Vice-President for the League of Women Voters of Seattle
Date: June 19, 2006
My name is Lucy Gaskill-Gaddis, Action VP for the League of Women Voters of Seattle. The League supports measures to increase accountibility, responsiveness, and efficiency in government. We also support having administrative functions integrated under the control of the mayor. Currently, the Mayor appoints department heads with confirmation by the Council. The League believes in this system of checks and balances among the executive, legislative and judiciary branches of government. Having reappointment and Council reconfirmation of department heads every four years as a way of increasing public accountability changes the system of checks and balances and is something that needs further study.
There are some aspects of the proposed changes that we are in agreement. We did a study of the Police Department in 2002 and agreed that the Police Chief should be offered a contract for a certain term. This position is highly political, and we felt a contract for a specified term would provide some insulation from political pressures. We are also concerned about the appointments to boards and commissions. Many members on the Planning Commission and other commissions have inherent conflicts of interest. It may be that having both the Council and the Mayor appointing people would bring in a greater diversity of views. Many boards and commissions curently have members appointed by both the Mayor and the Council. No matter who appoints the members, there should be more attention paid to the confirmation process.
We would support technical amendments such as those proposed by the City Clerk. Technical amendments clean up outdated language and outdated practices. They do not propose substantive changes in the role of the Council, the Mayor or the departments.
None of the proposed Council amendments are of an urgent nature. The City Council should establish a process for periodic review of the Charter and set up a citizen's committee to carry out that review.