Early returns from last Tuesday’s primary election show that an overwhelming 63.7 percent of voters are in favor of making King County offices nonpartisan.

“This is a tremendous victory for King County voters,” said Initiative 26 sponsor, Joe Fain. “I am optimistic about the returns, optimistic about the final vote in November, and optimistic about the direction this will take county government.” Fain explained, “Some of our supporters have worked for over four decades to bring us to where we are today. “Elections should offer choice, local government should focus on service; today we are much closer to both of those goals.”

Fain, who has worked in all three branches of county government and for both Republican and Democratic members of the King County Council, proposed Initiative 26 earlier this year when the King County Council failed to hold a hearing to consider the legislation introduced by a councilmember.

“Today’s success belongs to Joe Fain and the other I-26 supporters who stood outside in freezing rain to gather over 80,000 signatures during one of Seattle’s wettest winters,” said King County Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer (R-Federal Way), who introduced the original legislation to the Council. “I believe that Initiative 26 will open more doors for candidates to enter public service. The county provides the meat and potatoes of government services; there are no Republican or Democratic potholes, just a pothole that needs to be fixed.”

King County voters are overwhelmingly approving the change to nonpartisan offices, a change proposed both by Initiative 26 and the Council’s alternative.  Initiative 26 is edging out the Council-approved alternative with 53.4 percent. Voters will make a final determination on whether to amend the King County Charter in the November election. If approved, the 2009 Council, Assessor, and Executive races will be nonpartisan.