The Seattle/King County Municipal League has released its candidate ratings for the February (yes, February) King County Elections Director election, and just two candidates—current elections director Sherril Huff and former Republican KC Council member David Irons—received a rating of "outstanding," meaning, "Has made numerous outstanding contributions requiring skills related to the office, is a path-finding and respected leader, and brings knowledge and creativity to issues facing the office." Another, former bank manager Bill Anderson, was rated "very good" (one level below "outstanding"); and the remaining candidates, schoolteacher Chris Clifford, fired former elections director Julie Anne Kempf, and state senator Pam Roach (R-31), were merely "adequate" ("Has a record of participation and interest, is effective on specific issues, has provoked questions about suitability as an office holder, will need significant time/energy to fill gaps in knowledge").

Unlike, say, City Council questionnaires, the questionnaires filed by candidates for this position are as dry as week-old matzo. Pam Roach brags about getting her ham radio certification, and Kempf—who was fired for lying about the late mailing of absentee ballots, and subsequently arrested in an investigation of forgery, theft, criminal impersonation and assault—actually has the gall to brag that she "successfully managed this elections office in a time of crisis"—but honestly, that's about it. Still, given that this the only thing on the ballot in February, you literally have no excuse not to mail your ballot in before February 3.