Council 2 helps defeat Eyman initiative

TIM EYMAN'S Initiative 864 was defeated at 11 a.m. on July 2 when he and cohorts Mike and Jack Fagan arrived in Olympia with a claimed 156,000 signatures — well below the 250,000 needed to assure a spot on the November ballot.

I-864 proposed a radical 25 percent local property tax cut—the most severe attack on local government ever proposed by Eyman—and would have come just as hundreds of cities, counties, and local taxing districts are reeling from the impacts of I-747, Eyman’s successful 2001 initiative that placed an arbitrary 1 percent cap on the growth of local property taxes.

“We should all breathe a sigh of relief that I-864 is dead,” says Chris Dugovich, President and Executive Director of Council 2. “We extend our thanks to members across Washington who volunteered their time and energy to tracking signature gatherers and educating voters about the dangers this initiative poses.”

In particular, Dugovich points to Council 2-led programs that educated voters about both the devastating potential impacts of I-864, as well as the corruption of the initiative process itself through the use of paid signature gatherers.

“Council 2 members went the extra mile in support of their communities, their families, and their jobs,” says Dugovich. “The rejection of I-864 is a victory for essential services, for local government and for our members.”

Among those who worked tirelessly over six weeks to counter the efforts of the signature gatherers was librarian Cameron Johnson, a member of Local 113.

“Library members played an active role, but hundreds of government workers—and their supporters—from all over the state contributed to the campaign’s success.” Johnson says.

They cruised Puget Sound looking for signature gatherers, held up signs next to them and persuaded store managers to ban them from their premises.

“We raised the consciousness of a lot of people in the state about signature gathering,” Johnson adds. “We went in like David against Goliath, but we learned fast and had a big impact.” He thanks Council 2 staff for all the effort they put into helping defeat the measure.

Next on the horizon are continued efforts to reform the signature gathering process in the Washington Legislature, including bills that would change the way signature gatherers are paid and adding accountability by making petitioners sign to verify the signatures they collect.

“The goal is to reduce fraud and protect the initiative process from further abuse,” says Council 2 Deputy Director Pat Thompson, who is leading lobbying efforts for the legislation.

Thompson points to efforts of the Voter Education Committee, led by Council 2, that included automated calls, aggressive earned media, and radio ads featuring King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng — all warning voters to pay attention to the details and ask questions before signing a petition carried by a paid signature gatherer.

“These programs were a success, and give us momentum for the future,” says Thompson.

Yet another battle looms in the future with Eyman, who has pledged to return in 2005 with another local tax cutting initiative. “We’re ready for him,” says Dugovich. “Unless he is bankrolled by a wealthy special interest, Eyman has now failed two years in a row to qualify an initiative. He can keep pushing these bad ideas, and we will continue to fight — and win.”