CAO opponents crash Ron Sims' Issaquah meeting

Thursday night, February 17, 2005

Subject: Rural backlash over the Critical Areas Ordinance ("CAO") has 5th District Democrats concerned about Democrats getting blamed for the CAO - which was done by Democrats! (The CAO was proposed by Democrat King County Executive Ron Sims, and passed the King County Council by a straight partisan 7 to 6 vote by the 7 urban Democrats on the council, against the 6 Republicans, with only the latter group representing virtually all the rural areas in King County. The 7 urban Democrats each represent relatively few, or no, rural residents. Even Dow Constantine's rural constituents on Vashon and Maury Islands, where I live, represent only approximately 6 or 7% of his district.)

To: all those who I thought would be interested in what happened last night, and who might not even know what some of us were involved in.

The below email came in from a colleague re: what was on the front page of the Thursday, February 16 King County Journal re: an event Wednesday night in Issaquah. Eastside Democrats, worried about rural backlash over the CAO , including from their own once faithful party loyalists who have left the party, exhibited overt concern about the "pounding" (their word for it) they took at the polls in November.

Their main guest speaker was King County Executive "King" Ron "Tax to the Max" Sims, who uttered his typical distortions, half-truths, material misrepresentations and material omissions and political spin on the CAO.
The ``Good house training, Ron'' comment by one in the crowd was a reference to Ron Sims' comments at a recent press conference where Sims told reporters how financial institutions would be envious of King County's performance in the accuracy of counting ballots. Sims was interrupted by guffaws from certain people over the absurdity of his claims of accuracy in the vote counting. At that point, Sims launched into a lecture about manners, and asked for a display of "good house training". That audio clip was played for days afterwards on many radio stations. As though - what - vocal skeptics are puppies who have to be "house trained"???

Armen Yousoufian

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Subject: Nice job everyone involved!!!

Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2005

As I opened my store this morning, I walked by a rack of newspaper stands that I scan each morning to see the headlines. This CAO headline on the King County Journal caught my attention this morning. Good job!! This was an excellent way to keep the interest up and in front of everyone. *******************************************************

King County Journal Front Page, "above the fold" today: ******************************************************* http://www.kingcountyjournal.com/sited/story/html/186153

CAO opponents crash meeting - Democrats had hoped to keep county executive's appearance to themselves 2005-02-17 by Jamie Swift Journal Reporter ISSAQUAH -- Fifth District Democrats, fearing a mob of rural property owners angry over the recently passed Critical Areas Ordinance, chose not to publicly advertise a Wednesday night meeting fearing opponents would crash the event. And crash they did. About 30 protesters -- who feel their rights to do what they wish with their property have been infringed -- surrounded King County Executive Ron Sims as he arrived at the meeting at the King County Library Service Center on Newport Way. Sims kept his eyes straight ahead and did not address the protesters, who carried signs that read, ``They can't have 65 percent of my land,'' and shouted at him as he walked up a few steps and into the building. ``It's not your land; it's our land,'' they yelled. ``Tell the truth, Ron.'' ``Good house training, Ron.'' The protesters were allowed to attend the meeting, but were told not to bring their signs inside. Once inside, they helped themselves to the M&M cookies and coffee the Democrats had set out. A woman sitting in the back of the room said: ``This is going to be an interesting meeting.'' No `Jerry Springer Show' In a Feb. 3 e-mail, the chair of the 5th District Democrats wrote to other Democrats, ``We don't want this event to be confused with `The Jerry Springer Show.''' Democrats had hoped to ``pack the floor with over a hundred Democrats so that any vocal GOP opposition that shows up can be kept under control,'' according to the e-mail. It didn't happen. Sims was not on his home court; those angry with him made up at least half of the audience. Demonstrator Ron Ewart of Fall City summed up the situation this way: ``It's city folk ruling rural folk.'' Presentation proceeds Sims gave his planned presentation on King County's Critical Areas Ordinance, outlining its history, its intent and its merits. Protesters snickered and sneered, then voiced their displeasure when it was announced Sims would be taking just three questions, and only from Democrats. ``Ah, Ron, you're going to take the heat for this,'' protester Robert Larsen boldly shouted out of turn. ``I'm used to that,'' Sims quipped. But a curve ball was thrown when the final question was asked by a woman who turned out to be a Democrat no longer. ``I was a Democrat until September,'' said Cherri Mann, her throat quivering. ``I walked the walk and I talked the talk.'' Mann proceeded to explain to Sims that her five-acre Bear Creek property is ``worthless'' now, because of the strict development limitations of the CAO. Mann said she needs to get an $800 permit to pick raspberries on her property, and her dog can only run free on two acres of the land. ``My property is worthless,'' she said. ``How can government overstep so much?'' Sims said he would take her phone number and investigate her case. Then a long-haired man in the back stood up. ``It's not just her,'' he said. ``She speaks for thousands of us.'' Sims briskly made his way out the door and to his car as the Democrats thanked him and applauded him. Larsen wasn't satisfied. ``His back is against the wall,'' Larsen said. ``His house of cards is collapsing. He didn't expect hundreds and thousands of people to call him on this communistic taking (of land). This may be the end of Ron Sims.''