There needs to be two corrections made to this [Bellingham Herald] article [“Bellingham leaders to weigh Whatcom County election changes”] regarding the description of the amendments (propositions) provided by Ralph Schwartz.

Below, I have copied and pasted my email to him about this.

Ralph,
I am writing to you about your article, “Bellingham leaders to weigh County election changes.”

I believe corrections to these two descriptions you have provided of propositions 2 and 3 need correcting as they give readers an incorrect impression. Those are copied and pasted below:

▪ Should the council need a 7-0 vote to overturn a charter amendment approved by two-thirds of voters?

▪ Should the council need a 7-0 vote to change the part of the charter that governs the election of council members?

In the first excerpt above, the way you worded it, it gives the impression that the county council can “overturn a charter amendment,” which of course they cannot do. The council can only vote to place, via ordinance, an amendment on the ballot which would then allow voters to vote on that, or “overturn” a a charter amendment.

In the second excerpt, the way you worded it gives readers the impression that the county council can “change the part of the charter that governs the election of council members.” The council cannot “change the part of the charter that governs the election of council members.” All the council can do is to vote to place, via ordinance, an amendment on the ballot to then allow voters to potentially change the part of the charter that governs elections.

I hope you will make these corrections as soon as possible.
Thank you.

Sandy Robson

Read Sandy’s post on her Facebook page here.

To view a copy of the Whatcom County November 2015 Sample Ballot, visit this link: http://www.whatcomcounty.us/DocumentCenter/View/12532

As of October 7, 2015, no correction of the above mentioned items in the article “Bellingham leaders to weigh Whatcom County election changes” has been made.  You can contact The Bellingham Herald here to voice your opinion: http://www.bellinghamherald.com/customer-service/contact-us/