King County selects turnaround team for Elections; Key recommendation of Elections task force goes into effect

Oct. 31, 2005

King County selects turnaround team for Elections; Key recommendation of Elections task force goes into effect

King County Executive Ron Sims today announced the selection of a turnaround team, effective immediately, to oversee efforts to further improve the performance of the King County Elections Office.

The team, selected from among three qualified applicants, has been put together by Waldron & Company, a locally-owned firm with an extensive track record in assisting public, not-for-profit, and corporate sector client organizations improve their organizational effectiveness and strengthen their management oversight.

"I was very impressed with the turnaround plan put together by Waldron," Sims said. "They have a stellar track record in resolving cultural issues and strengthening management practices in a wide range of organizational environments, and I think they will do an excellent job of aiding us in our ongoing efforts to strengthen public trust in our elections processes."

Installing a turnaround team at Elections was a key recommendation of the Independent Task Force on Elections appointed last April by the Executive. Sims embraced the idea, describing it as an innovative approach to governance reform that borrowed from the best practices of the private sector.

The team will answer directly to Sims, and will have a broad mandate to recommend changes in the section, particularly with respect to improving the culture of the agency. Team members will be in place to observe the November 8 General Election and the subsequent vote counting processes.

The choice of Waldron won plaudits from members of the task force who participated in the selection process. They added that they enthusiastically concurred with the selection.

"We have recently seen the results of a detailed operations audit of the Elections section," said Cheryl Scott, a former CEO of Group Health who chaired the task force. "What we need now is a management and cultural audit of the section and Waldron is uniquely qualified to provide that."

"I was very comfortable with the model Waldron developed to lead the turnaround team effort," added Suzanne Sinclair, the Island County auditor who served as vice-chair of the task force. "I believe it will be effective and should give King County the best possible chance of success."