Voting
Thanks to a March 18 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, we might know the results of the Gregoire versus Rossi rematch three months early this time (instead of two months late). We could also know the final score on Representative Dave Reichert (R-8) versus Democratic challenger Darcy Burner early on.
August 19 is the date for our statewide local and federal primaries. Thanks to this week's court victory for Initiative 872 (a top-two primary scheme passed by voters, but voided by local courts until the Supreme Court stepped in), Gregoire and Rossi will be on the same ballot, as will Reichert and Burner.
Previous to the ruling, voters had to choose either a Republican or Democratic ballot in the primary; the top D and top R moved forward to the November showdown. That's how we've been doing it for the last three years anyway. (Prior to that, there was only one ballot with all the candidates; the top D and top R went through even if two Ds finished first and second.)
I guess we should think of the August 19 results as really really really accurate polling data. NANCY DREW
Stealing
In the past few weeks, thieves and would-be thieves have broken into several Zipcars around the city and stolen the gas cards. (The cars themselves are harder to steal thanks to elaborate security precautions.)
To use the gas card, you're supposed to have a trip number that allows members to buy gas (but nothing else); it's unclear what, if anything, the thieves have been able to purchase with the cards.
Company spokesman John Williams confirmed that "there's been some vandalism" but couldn't provide any details about the alleged smash-and-grabs; the Seattle Police Department had no further information. ERICA C. BARNETT
Disciplining
The Seattle Police Department is (surprisingly) standing by the Office of Professional Accountability (OPA) on officer discipline. SPD has asked for a superior-court judge to review a city disciplinary panel decision that had reduced Seattle Police Officer Richard Roberson's suspension from 30 days to only 10.
Roberson was suspended without pay after an OPA investigation found he had destroyed evidence from a 2005 incident at the Seattle Public Library, where he cited a man for trespassing, but did not arrest him for possession of cocaine and a crack pipe. Roberson destroyed the drugs, but did not reference them in his report.
Roberson appealed his punishment to the city's Civil Service Commissionâa three-member quasi-judicial panel appointed by the mayor and city council to hear disciplinary appealsâwhich agreed SPD was too harsh and reduced his suspension.
SPD has caught plenty of heat for not disciplining officers, but it appears SPD believes the suspension was warranted. JONAH SPANGENTHAL-LEE
