Election 2012: 1st round of results – both ballot measures passing

As is customary on Election Night these days, there’s one round of results – the major races are on this page of The Seattle Times (WSB partner)’s website. For the two ballot measures voted on in this area, both are ahead so far – Seattle Prop 1, for library funding, 62 percent yes, and King County Prop. 1, youth/family justice center funding, 53 percent yes. (Both need only a simple majority to pass.)

The most prominent West Seattle candidate in the primary, former Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, may not make it to the general-election runoff for secretary of state – he’s in third, with Kim Wyman leading at 39 percent, Kathleen Drew at 22 percent, and Nickels at 16 percent. In the Seattle-area Congressional District 7 race, incumbent Rep. Jim McDermott has 70 percent of the vote, with Ron Bemis next at 16 percent, and Andrew Hughes at 6 percent (the top two advance to November). In the statewide governor race, Democrat Jay Inslee is at 47 percent, Republican Rob McKenna at 43 percent. To get results directly from the county website, go here.

JoAnne August 8, 2012 (8:43 am)

Those results are with a voter turnout in King County of just over 20% so far.
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And that 20% is only from approximately 70% of the adult population who are registered to vote.
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So it’s really closer to 14% of all citizens old enough to vote.
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And you wonder why we have a government that builds high-rise apartments in the neighborhoods and tries to put zip lines in our parks.

jiggers August 8, 2012 (9:06 am)

I voted no on everything… I don’t need to justify myself so don’t ask.

Yikes August 8, 2012 (10:57 am)

And people wonder why their property taxes are high? These two props passing with two more in the fall, ouch. Folks your assessment may have fallen but the amount of taxes you pay hasn’t and after november you can add 4 more things. wait till property values start going up again. It’s going to get ugly.

G August 8, 2012 (12:59 pm)

I wonder how many ballots were challenged, ridiculously, like mine. Something is telling me a LOT.

WSB August 8, 2012 (1:37 pm)

G, fwiw, mine was challenged last time. I think it’s because I’m getting lazy with my cursive signature, I have so little occasion to use it, it’s hard to execute. And I could never synch up the logistics for answering the challenge, so my vote didn’t count last time. Have to check on whether it went through this time around …

JoAnne August 8, 2012 (1:20 pm)

Greedy politicians have learned to put tax levies on the ballot during elections with less turnout, like primaries.
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That way, their cronies and special interest groups can have a much bigger influence on the outcome.

G August 8, 2012 (2:28 pm)

WSB,

It could be, as you said, a matter of sloppy signature – mine is not a work of art. But I’d heard from others, who like myself, have had their signature challenged for the 1st time.

Anyway, I’m making the trek down to Election HQ just for the principle of it.

Thanks for the info.

datamuse August 8, 2012 (3:46 pm)

Strangely enough, I’m willing to pay more in property taxes for things like libraries and a family justice center that isn’t falling apart. Call me crazy.

Always Confused August 8, 2012 (4:46 pm)

Me too datamuse. I always wonder why people think funds for these sort of things just appear magically. If you don’t want your property taxes to go up, then rent. If you don’t want your car tabs to go up, use ZipCar. I’ll pay for funding libraries, education, roads and public transportation. Gladly. Thank goodness there are many others that feel the same way. Our job is to make sure there are people in office who know how to spend our tax dollars. I know. Dork.

Yikes August 8, 2012 (8:01 pm)

Well tell that to seniors on fixed incomes who have seen everything go up from property taxes, Medicare premiums, sales tax, car tabs, utility bills and general inflation. you pay 10% on everything you buy. 10! On eddy transaction is this state. Do you know how much money that is? Where does it all go? Where does the property taxes you pay now go?

The answer for politicians has been simply to raise taxes rather than make difficult decisions. and it is always under the guise of public safety, or roads, or for the kids. Yet police depts complain about not enough staff to have an officer at the sw precinct, our roads are falling apart and have potholes everywhere, and high school graduation rates in seattle are still not high enough.

But you two keep voting yes and trust the politicians are good stewards of your money.

jiggers August 8, 2012 (9:58 pm)

If you rent, the increase isn’t going to be pretty.

Gary August 9, 2012 (1:55 am)

I agree with you completely Yikes. I voted no on both measures, King County could fund these things if they didn’t waste taxpayer funds. I really see no end to tax-and-spend. When I can, I’ll do what my parents and their retired friends have already done – move!

Smythe August 9, 2012 (3:17 pm)

Yeah, right, the answer is to defund everything and let it all fall apart completely. Or maybe to entrust public resources to the same private entities that have brought us such rousing successes like the US penal system and decades of unending war. Right.

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