To The members of the Senate Committee on Government Operations, Tribal Relations, & Elections:

 Craig Pridemore  craig.pridemore@leg.wa.gov  Chair - democrat              (360)786-7696

 Margarita Prentice margarita.prentice@leg.wa.gov  Vice Chair - democrat (360)786-7616

 Dan Swecker    dan.swecker@leg.wa.gov  Ranking - republican               (360)786-7638

 Don Benton      don.benton@leg.wa.gov -  republican                            (360)786-7632

 Maralyn Chase    maralyn.chase@leg.wa.gov -  democrat                        (360)786-7662

 Sharon Nelson    sharon.nelson@leg.wa.gov -  democrat                         (360)786-7667

 Pam Roach        pam.roach@leg.wa.gov - republican                              (360)786-7660

Reasons for a vote against House Bill 2610 include:

 

1. The State should not abrogate/rescind an agreement that was the critical inducement for the city of Houghton to abandon its autonomy and merge with the city of Kirkland in 1968.

 

2. The State should not involve itself in a local issue with legislation that has not been requested or supported by the Kirkland City Council.  There has been no public outcry for this legislation. 

 

3. Houghton Community Municipal Corporation has worked very effectively with Kirkland's city council and staff for over forty years.  

4. The state already has a process in RCW 35.14 that can terminate the Municipal Corporation by a public vote every four years.  There has never been any concerted effort made to influence a public vote to terminate the Municipal Corporation.