County: Charter reviewers can correct a problem

The Mark Lindquist and Troy Kelley fiascos point to a correctable problem that is embedded in some governance systems, including that of Pierce County: the question of how to remove corrupt, incompetent or otherwise dysfunctional government officials.

In the “best practices” form of government championed by the National Civic League, there are no elected department heads. Appointed professional department heads are subject to easy removal, whereas elected department heads (sheriffs, auditors, treasurers, prosecuting attorneys) are almost impossible to remove until their term is up.

Running a county or state department requires mastery of a specific body of knowledge and extensive experience. Why would stakeholders (voters) want a key part of their corporation (county government) managed by someone whose only required qualifications were that he or she is at least 18 years old, is registered to vote and is more popular than the next person?

The newly seated Pierce County Charter Review Committee has an opportunity to remedy this problem by eliminating elected county department heads, including the prosecuting attorney, sheriff, auditor and treasurer and replacing the positions with qualified professional department head like other departments of county government.

This story was originally published December 4, 2015 at 1:44 PM with the headline "County: Charter reviewers can correct a problem."