Commissioners debate Good Governance Advisory Board plan after petition filed to place alternate plan on ballot

A citizen petition to initiate an alternate optional plan for county government was filed on the morning of the meeting, prompting a lengthy exchange among commissioners over timing, intent and process.

Commissioner Lee said he and others signed a petition to put a five-member commission option before voters and that he expects to gather required signatures. "We plan on getting the signatures and putting this on the ballot," Lee said, asserting the petition offers voters another avenue.

Other commissioners and county staff said the timing appeared intended to block immediate action by the Board and questioned whether the filing was in good faith. County legal counsel advised that the code contains provisions aimed at preventing bad-faith initiations but that the statute is not explicit about how "bad faith" is defined or who would decide it. Counsel said election and clerk procedures constrain when an initiating petition can be overlaid on the commission's work and that withdrawals and certification have limited legal effect until statutory deadlines pass.

Supporters of the Good Governance Advisory Board's work described a months-long volunteer and staff process that produced a draft ordinance and maps; some commissioners said the advisory board process had broad participation and that the petition's timing looked like an effort to obstruct the commission's plan. Public commenters offered differing views: Julie Fulmer of Vineyard praised the advisory board process and said voters should see options on the ballot; another resident noted several municipal chief elected officials supported the advisory board recommendation.

The commission did not act to block the petition; legal staff said they would need to research the bad-faith standard and next steps. The matter remains active, and commissioners indicated they would continue deliberations in future work sessions.