And now for the latest chapter in the King County Citizens Election Oversight Committee (CEOC) drama starring King County Council member Jane Hague and election activist George Cheung.

When we last tuned in, Republican Hague had sent Cheung a letter explaining her opposition to his appointment to the committee: As a Democratic precinct committee officer in the 34th Legislative District, he's too partisan, she said. (King County Director of Elections Sherril Huff supported Cheung's appointment, recommending that he fill the slot dedicated to Chinese speakers. Cheung is the Executive Director of Win-Win Network, a non-profit that works on registering traditionally disenfranchised voters, including non-English speakers.)

Cheung responded to Hague's charges of partisanship in an email of his own this morning, pointing out that the governing ordinance for the CEOC explicitly makes an exception for PCOs to serve on the committee.

What's more, he notes that the person who fills one of the supposedly nonpartisan spots on the 13-member committee—Ross Marzolf, who represents King County registered voters—is a Republican PCO. Marzolf also previously served as the executive director of the King County Republican Party. (The committee does also include explicitly Republican and Democratic positions.)

Hague's Democratic opponent in the November election, Richard Mitchell, has seized on the flap. He issued a press release this morning pointing out the Marzolf discrepancy and noting that CEOC members have donated to both Republicans and Democrats (more to Republicans), including more than $2000 to Hague. Marzolf has only donated $60 to Hague, but he's made bigger contributions ($135) to Susan Hutchison, the GOP county executive candidate in 2009 and $315 to John Koster, the arch-conservative who challenged Democratic US Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA, 2) last year.

Mitchell says: “Jane’s partisanship is only hurting the Chinese community. She could back up her claims by returning her donations from CEOC members or balancing the Committee’s makeup by approving the appointment of George Cheung. Not doing so is just partisan prejudice.”

Cheung has donated $100 to Mitchell.

Here's Cheung's latest email to Hague:

Councilmember Hague,

Thank you for your response dated September 6, 2011. In it, you state that I am not qualified for appointment because I am a “Democrat (sic) Precinct Committee Officer and campaign activist”.

In Ordinance 15453, the legislation you co-sponsored to establish the CEOC, the description of the position in question is “ …(a) representative of the Chinese-speaking community.” There is no mention of partisanship, or lack thereof. Further, Part D of the ordinance specifically states:

“Except for the member representing the Washington State Association of Auditors, a nominee or appointee to the committee shall not hold elective public office or be a candidate for election to public office, other than as a precinct committee officer.”

So, how can I be disqualified when your legislation specifically states that precinct committee officers are eligible to serve? In fact, a current CEOC member representing “King County registered voters”, is an elected Republican Precinct Committee Officer, not to mention former Executive Director of the King County Republican Party as well as Political Director for the State Republican Party. Clearly, you are applying a double-standard.

If your actions are any indication, King County is going to face extreme challenges in complying with Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act. Most believe the county will need to make all voting materials, including ballots, available in Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean and potentially Tagalog. How, then, can an election oversight entity in King County, where people of color at over 1/3 of the population, not have not a single member of color?

It is ironic that you state your job is to “guarantee that the members of the CEOC will not place partisan politics above the need for fair and impartial vote counts”, when your actions, the partisan-imbalance of the CEOC and member contributions to your campaign suggest otherwise.

Sincerely,

George Cheung

I have a call in to Hague.