The Municipal League of King County has released it’s 2012 candidate ratings for the races taking place this fall.
To compile the ratings, members of the Municipal League spend about a month reviewing candidates running for office through questionnaires, speaking with references, interviews with the candidate and by studying the candidates public record.
Committee members ranked each candidate based on four areas: involvement, character, effectiveness and knowledge.
Rankings by the Municipal League are not an endorsement, but offer a look at each candidate potential to be effective in office.
Candidates are ranked not qualified, adequate, good, very good or outstanding.
A good ranking means the League found the person to be “active and effective in many roles, is capable of moving people to productive action, has strong record of participation in problem solving, show satisfactory commitment to tackling issues”, while a very good rating means the candidate “makes significant contributions, is a skilled builder of consensus, inspires confidence in the way he/she would serve, is thorough and attentive to issues. An outstanding ranking means the candidate “has made numerous outstanding contributions requiring skills related to the office, is a path-finding and respected leader, bring knowledge and creativity to issues facing the office”.
Candidates who will face voters on Mercer Island all received good through outstanding rankings.
In the State House of Representatives race in the District 41 position 1 race, incumbent Marcie Maxwell earned a good ranking, while challenger Tim Eaves earned a very good ranking.
In the State Senate District 41 race, incumbent Steve Litzow was given a very good ranking, while Maureen Judge earned a good ranking.
In the King County Sheriff race, appointed sheriff Steve Strachan received an outstanding ranking, while challenger John Urquhart was given a good ranking.
To see a full list of the rankings, and other information about the Municipal League, visit www.munileagueratings.org.
