News
Montana: No transportation measure on November ballot
The Helena Area Transportation Service’s efforts to get a transportation district initiative on the November ballot fell about 350 signatures short when the final tallies came in. Since April, HATS officials have been collecting petition signatures from people who supported placing a proposed Helena Urban Transportation District before voters this fall. Though they managed to turn in more than 7,000 signatures, not enough of them qualified to meet the 5,849 requirement.
Colorado: Petition laws becomes part of debate in Governor’s race
John Hickenlooper and Scott McInnis may stand together against three spending-reduction initiatives on Colorado’s November ballot, but they separate on the issue of whether something should be done to make it harder for proposals like them to wind up before state voters in the future. Hickenlooper, McInnis and Dan Maes appeared at a Colorado Association of Realtors forum of gubernatorial candidates Thursday afternoon in Golden. The topics of questions ranged from eminent domain to transportation funding, and not all of the questions went to each of the candidates.
Washington: Liquor sale privatization will be on ballot
Large retailers Costco and Safeway could be allowed to sell hard liquor if voters approve Initiative 1100 in November. Currently, hard alcohol is sold in stores licensed by the state. The state provides the inventory, while those with state contracts receive base pay and a sales commission. But critics of the state’s role call it a “Prohibition-style monopoly” on liquor sales.
Nevada: Arguments on trash collection measure approved
With little discussion, the Fernley City Council voted 4-0-1 to adopt a resolution concerning arguments and rebuttals for and against a ballot question concerning the city’s mandatory trash collection service. Cal Eilrich, councilman, abstained from the vote because he said he served on one of the committees involved in the issue.
Oregon: Lawsuit filed to challenge petition signature verification rules
Supporters of a ballot measure to take redistricting responsibilities away from the Legislature have sued the Oregon secretary of state, claiming that rules for checking petition signatures are too restrictive. One of the authors of the measure, Kevin Mannix, claims that signature-checking rules for the petition are far more restrictive than required by state law. The lawsuit alleges the rules adopted by Secretary of State Kate Brown deem signatures invalid if petition sheets aren’t properly filled out.
California: Legal action over marina center initiative
Humboldt Baykeeper and the Environmental Protection Information Center have again filed a lawsuit against Eureka challenging the validity of the city’s environmental impact report for the proposed Marina Center development. The suit, filed in Humboldt County Superior Court last week, argues that the city acted in violation of the California Environmental Quality Act when it voted to place a ballot measure before city voters seeking to make a host of zoning changes to the property that is the proposed location for the project.
Washington: Group trying to prevent red-light initiative with lawsuit
This city’s debate over red-light cameras just got hotter. A group calling itself Mukilteo Citizens for Simple Government filed a lawsuit late Monday attempting to keep the city’s red-light camera initiative off the Nov. 2 ballot. The six-page complaint attempts to block an initiative that calls for a public vote and City Council approval before red-light or speed-zone cameras can be installed in the city. The initiative also would limit fines to the least expensive traffic ticket, which is $20.
Michigan: Push for mayoral education oversight to be on ballot
After an angry and contentious Detroit City Council meeting Tuesday, an advocacy group will make one more attempt next week to convince council members to put a question on the Nov. 3 ballot about whether the mayor should oversee Detroit Public Schools.
Montana: Big game licensing likely to be on ballot
Montana Secretary of State Linda McColloch announced today that I-161 did indeed qualify for the general election ballot and the voters will decide its fate on November 2. The controversial initiative that would eliminate outfitter set-aside big game licenses is breathtakingly close to making it on the ballot for the November 2 general election.
Montana: 3 measures on ballot while 8 fail to make it
Three ballot measures will appear on the November ballot, while eight others failed to muster the necessary signatures, Secretary of State Linda McCulloch said Monday. The measures that qualified, if approved, would prohibit state and local governments from imposing new taxes on real estate transactions, end guaranteed hunting licenses for outfitters and cap interest rates that payday and title loan businesses can charge consumers.