The last day to vote in the primary for King County Executive is Tuesday, August 18. We urge all of our supporters who have not already voted to take a moment to review the candidates' responses to our questionnaire and then fill out their ballots and get them in the mail by Tuesday. This is a crucial choice, because the next executive will have the opportunity to make real and lasting reforms at King County Animal Care and Control, and to finally eliminate the inhumane conditions that were exposed at the county shelters nearly two years ago.
Along with animal lovers across the county, we were shocked by Interim Executive Kurt Triplett's absurd proposal last week to eliminate all funding for animal care and control services in King County. (Read more about this proposal in our News section.) Rather than aspiring to the model animal services program that the King County Council has advocated for the past two years, where all healthy and treatable animals would get a second chance at a new life, Mr. Triplett's proposal threatened to take King County back to the dark ages. Fortunately, it's never gonna happen.
A candlelight vigil held in front of the West Lake Shopping Center in Seattle drew dozens of supporters calling for the release of two dogs who live thousands of miles apart but who happen to share a common, tragic reality. The gathering was initially planned to call for the release of Bruce, a dog being held in Northern Ireland for the last two years. However, many in the crowd came to support Snaps, the dog used as a weapon by his owner in the brutal attack of two women in SeaTac, and who is now being held in Kent by King County Animal Care and Control.
We joined animal lovers across King County in watching with dismay as Kurt Triplett was chosen Monday as the interim executive of King County. This vote marked a stunning failure of leadership in King County, a blow to integrity in government, and an unforgiveable betrayal of the animals in county shelters. But it also strengthened our message and increased our membership, and is helping to bring together a coalition of people determined to bring honesty back to King County politics.
The 16-member Blue Ribbon Committee appointed by the King County Council expressed overwhelming support Wednesday night for former Seattle Mayor Charles Royer to be the interim executive for King County. Ten of the 16 members supported Mr. Royer, while only five voted in favor of Kurt Triplett, former chief of staff for Ron Sims. Now we can only wait and see: Will the King County Council choose Kurt Triplett, thus sanctioning the dishonesty and manipulation of the Sims administration, and dooming thousands of animals to even more suffering at the hands of KCACC? Or, will the council vote in favor of a much needed change, and give hope to the county and the animals with the selection of Charles Royer?
As the King County Council deliberates upon which candidate to select as a replacement for departed King County Executive Ron Sims, it faces a clear choice. Select former Sims' chief of staff Kurt Triplett, and continue the failed policies – and blatant deception – of the past. Or, make a fresh start for the animals and the county. We plead with the council to reject the "continuity" of failure, insist upon integrity, and give hope to the thousands of animals who will pass through KCACC over the next six months.
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