County fails `smell' test
2005-01-04
ELECTION
I have volunteered for a number of political campaigns over the past 16 years. Sometimes my candidates win, and often not -- but that's how elections go and if I believe they're fair I live with the result.
But King County's handling of this election, adding ``discovered'' ballots during recounts not once or twice but nine times, permanently remarking ``clarified'' ballots, changing rules mid-process and more, makes it clear that this election was neither clean nor fair.
Whether it is massive incompetence or outright fraud, this makes our government illegitimate.
I can accept a defeat by even one vote -- but only if I believe the counting was done cleanly, fairly and honestly. King County fails that smell test.
This election must be done over.
William W. Wallace
Redmond