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11/09/2007: "Statement Regarding Storm Water Funding Ordinance Vote"

By Rich Peterson


No one can know with certainty how to interpret the vote, but I believe these results go well beyond the issue of rejecting a flawed storm water funding ordinance. I think the outcome relates strongly to the concept of home rule and the fundamental voter rationale in adopting the charter. A strong collective sentiment exists among us that local government should serve the people and that the county council has, in some cases, not accomplished this.



The history of the referendum – from the initial filing, moving to the law suit and the council majority’s continuing support for the ordinance even though it was becoming apparent to most once the scrutiny began, that it contained major flaws –led to public dissatisfaction.

This vote might be recognized as the second wake-up call (the first being the charter’s passage) that the public would like the council’s primary focus to be on the basic functions of local government and service on the citizens’ behalf.

My overall conclusion, now that the vote is in, is that the checks and balances incorporated in the charter have been tested and that they work. There is a method available to the people to redirect their representatives’ activities and it has been exercised. A small group of dedicated people were able to effectively circulate petitions, withstand many challenges, and influence the future of their county. They deserve congratulations.

I hope we will all get the message this time and I’m looking forward to getting to work with my council colleagues to develop a new storm water funding ordinance more to our constituents’ liking.

(Rich Peterson is the County Councilman for District Two, San Juan North)